The Decayed Archives - Poppytalk

DIY Driftwood Magnets

Jan Halvarson — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:11:00 +0000

What works for me visually is the different colours and sizes of driftwood, along with her typed notes. Miranda is one of the best visual people around I think. Her Instagram accounts are so beautifully edited, yet don’t seem so pre-mediated (if you know what I mean). A must, must-follow! Also near the end of this post, I’ve added a few pics of her very special small batch soy and cedar wooden wicked candles that she sells through her webshop, maderagoods.ca. The scents are truly beautiful (I have one myself), and inspired by the outdoors here in the Pacific Northwest. All photos by Miranda Hudson.

maderagoods.ca

@maderagoods

@hudsonny

Check out the how Miranda made her magnets below.

DIY Driftwood Magnets

What you’ll need:

—A collection of small pieces of driftwood (but you could use any smaller found piece of nature — like seashells, river rocks, bark, lichen, acorns, etc.)

—small round magnets (found at most craft stores)

—glue gun

How to:

The how-to is pretty straightforward, using a glue gun and attaching each magnet to a piece of driftwood. The idea is so charming I think because half the fun would be the collecting in itself. So of course, the basics; making sure each piece is clean so that the glue will stick (no sand still attached, etc.), perhaps sanding edges a little if needed. So simple and easy, and such a beautiful way to greet the new year don’t you think? Thank you Miranda! We love this so much! Check out all the beautiful how-to visuals below.

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Retro Radio Reno

Jan Halvarson — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 01:40:00 +0000

A vintage radio gets a makeover

Local furniture makeover maven, Nicole Phillips of Visual Heart just finished a sweet upgrade on a vintage radio (that we stumbled upon online), for the upcoming Dinner by Design 2017 event happening at the end of this week, here in Vancouver. Under the direction of Interior Designer, Kyla Ray and a group of emerging designers from VCAD‘s interior design program that Kyla’s mentoring, the radio will be part of a display there (starting Thursday night) which features a cocktail bar and a video game lounge led by other designers. More info and details about the makeover and Dinner by Design below.

We asked Nicole about the marvelous makeover. Here’s what she told us.

“The radio was sourced at a local thrift store as part of Kyla’s design plan. I wiped it clean, sanded it to remove the shine surface. The entire piece was masked off using painters tape, it was necessary to take extra time taping it off so paint wouldn’t get on any important parts of the radio. Then I primed it with Zinsser 123 spray primer, this is the best primer on the market, it locks in stains, smells and really helps the top coat adhere to the surface. After a few coats of primer I applied Florescent pink Rustoleum paint in several very thin layers, unfortunately this paint isn’t ideal for furniture, the paint itself is very thin so it takes a while to build up an opaque layer and the finish is very matte, but the colour worked with the design plan so I just went with it. I really didn’t like the final finish, so to achieve a smoother result I applied FAT Paint Wax very liberally and buffed it out, the final result is almost like eggshell paint. The legs were painted using Rustoleum matte black.”

More about Dinner by Design 2017

When: November 16 and 17
Where: Harbour Event Centre – 750 Pacific Boulevard
Price: Free public viewing | $75 cocktail art | $300 gala dinner – Tickets available via The Social Concierge

Visit Nicole Phillips online
Blog: Visual Heart
Instagram: @visualheart
Facebook: visualheartdesigns

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DIY Art Deco Dresser

Jan Halvarson — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:45:00 +0000

We’re excited today to share a DIY project from Christine Schmidt of Yellow Owl Workshop‘s newest book, Make It Yours, Patterns and inspiration to stamp, stencil and customize your stuff. Once again, Christine makes all our DIY dreams come true with a stunning collection of projects that are inspiring and fresh. From creating the most adorable stamped clay ornaments to turning an old dresser into an eye-catching art deco showpiece, Christine shows readers how to create gorgeous projects using unexpected materials. To launch the book which is on sale today we’re sharing the art deco dresser project which is one of our favourites from the book. Check it out below!

Art Deco Dresser

During art school I paid bills by working as a mural painter and faux finisher. It was the late 1990s and faux marbling and sponge painting could not be stopped. I especially loved metal leafing with gold, copper, and silver. Using a simple Ikea dresser, this project showcases both the traditional method of leafing and a new method I developed to get crisp leaf motifs every time.
Art Deco, an art and design movement that started in France after the Second World War, played with geometric shapes, symmetry, and gold, baby, gold. The motif can be scaled or multiplied to fit any dresser, wall, or even a jewelry box. Gold and metal leaf works on many surfaces, even glass and melamine. Always remember to seal your surface before you begin so the adhesive sizing takes—and to seal it after to protect your work. I like to use large foam brushes to apply sealer and adhesive because these products will ruin your expensive brushes, and the larger brush size facilitates the application process.

MATERIALS

Damp cloth
Dresser
Rag
2 foam brushes, each 2″ (5cm)
Gold leaf kit with 25 sheets of leaf, adhesive sizing, brush, and sealer
Additional gold leaf sheets
Templates A, B, and C (click here and here to download)
Clear contact paper
Craft knife
Cutting mat, cardboard, or chipboard, 20″ × 18″ (51cm × 45.5 cm) or larger
Masking tape
Tracing paper, 81⁄2″ × 11″ (21.5cm × 28cm)
Fine point permanent marker
Scissors (optional)
Flat brush, 1⁄2″ (13mm)
Mod Podge, Gloss Finish, 16 oz (473mL)

TIME: 4 hours

LEARN: How to apply gold leafing to surfaces using two techniques
REMIX: Use these techniques to decorate any wood, glass, or paper item; create a large canvas stamp with this motif

Instructions, Part 1 (Traditional Method)
We will use this method to cover the entire dresser top. It is best to do this project indoors, where nothing will fall or blow onto the surface as you work.

1. Wipe the dresser clean with a damp rag. Any dust will prevent the adhesive from working properly.

2. Use a foam brush to apply the adhesive sizing in a thin, even coat to the top surface of the dresser. Allow it to dry for at least 20 minutes, up to one hour, or until sizing is clear and tacky. This time will vary depending on your climate. If you start too soon, the gold leaf will tear and move with the wet sizing.

3. Wash and dry your hands immediately before applying leaf because oil, sweat, or residue will make the leaf stick to your hands rather than your work surface. Open to a fresh sheet of gold leaf in the booklet. Place gold leaf facedown on the adhesive surface. Press gently and remove booklet, leaving only the gold leaf. Smooth with a small bristle brush.

4. Repeat step 3 until surface is covered in gold leaf.

5. Place small bits of leaf over any gaps and smooth them with the bristle brush. Use a gentle stippling motion to get into any grooves and then a wiping motion to slough off the extra leaf.

6. Use the second foam brush to apply at least two coats of protective sealer, allowing time to dry between coats.

Instructions, Part 2 (Cheater’s Method)
We will use this method to create the stenciled decoration on the face of the dresser.

1. Remove adhesive backing from a sheet of contact paper and lay it faceup on a table. Press gold leaf sheets onto contact paper. Once you have covered the surface with gold leaf, paint on at least two layers of sealer with a foam brush and set to dry overnight.

2. Place gold-leafed contact paper, plastic side up, on a cutting mat about 20″ × 18″ (51cm × 45.5cm).

3. Trace templates A, B, and C on tracing paper (template C is a mirror image of template B—see pages 148–49) and attach the three templates with tape onto the gold-leafed contact paper. Using a craft knife, cut out the three shapes. You may want to use scissors to cut out the circles.

4. Lay the dresser on the ground with the drawers facing up. Position the gold-leaf decoupage motif in the center of the top drawer with contact paper side down. Align the straight edge of the motif with the top edge of the top drawer. Apply small pieces of tape to secure the main large motif and the circles in position.

5. Lift up portions of the gold-leaf decoupage motif and coat the back with Mod Podge, removing tape as needed. Lay motif back down and smooth with your hands. Wipe up excess Mod Podge with a rag.

6. Using a craft knife, cut a centered line between the top and middle drawers. Fold over edges and adhere with Mod Podge.

7. Brush Mod Podge on decorated surfaces to seal the leafing.

Make It Yours, Patterns and inspiration to stamp, stencil and customize your stuff (Clarkson Potter; on sale March 28, 2017; $22). Click here to find out more.

Follow Christine Schmidt + Yellow Owl Workshop:
Site/Shop – yellowowlworkshop.com
Instagram – @yellowowlworkshop

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Vancouver Gets Colourful | The Vancouver Mural Festival

Jan Halvarson — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 00:34:00 +0000

Goodbye grey, hello colour! The first-ever Vancouver Mural Festival takes place this Saturday, August 20th here in Vancouver and we grabbed a few early snapshots of a few yesterday before all the festivities begin. Luckily the skies were their bluest of the year yesterday to make the colours really pop!

Together with the City of Vancouver, the Main Street BIA and the Burrard Arts Foundation, the festival offers approximately 40 murals by over 50 artists in 20 different locations around Mount Pleasant and the Downtown Eastside. Main Street between Seventh and 12th will be closed Saturday for live music, interactive art exhibits and a marketplace from 12-6 p.m. that afternoon.

Local artists participating include Frazer Adams, Russell Alton, Tim Barnard, Paige Bowman, Ali Bruce, Corey Bulpitt, Nomi Chi, DEDOS, Shannon Elliott, Mark Illing, Julia Iredale, Shallom Johnson (INDIGO), James Knight, Cody Lecoy, Tim Mack, Graeme McCormack, Tierney Milne, Colin Moore, Kyle Scott, Taka Sudo, Scott Sueme, Mandy Tsung, Ben Tour, Ilya Viryachev, Ola Volo, Andrea Wan, Alison Woodward, Drew Young and more.

International artists participating are Bicicleta Sem Freio (Brazil), KASHINK (France), LOW BROS (Germany), and NEVERCREW (Switzerland).

Tip: If you’re in the area, keep your eyes on the sky for their big blue balloons. Each one marks a Vancouver Mural Fest mural site!

Let’s take a look at some of our pics below!

So happy whoever came up with this idea first for a mural festival. Winters in Vancouver will be happier. Can’t wait to unearth them all!

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Before and After: Vintage Typewriter Cart

Jan Halvarson — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 03:20:00 +0000

Guest post by Nicole Phillips of Visual Heart

Andrew and I took a drive out of town to visit family and did our usual thrift store hunt for furniture. Just when we thought we found nothing, this awesome vintage typewriter cart was hiding amongst the junk for $5. I couldn’t believe the deal we got, I was super excited to paint it a fun colour.

I spent a long while debating between a spray painted finish or using a brush. Each had their pros and cons, but I kept being drawn back to hand painting due to my budget, we already had some awesome colours in a quality paint, foam rollers etc.. Spray paint is messy, expensive, requires many cans and needs to be done outside. While spray paint does give a smoother finish, the range of colours in a high quality durable finish is pretty boring. I specifically wanted a retro colour, pistachio, mint, light blue, something like that. After the ridiculousness we went through to paint our fridge, I wasn’t about to go through that again for this cart project.
In the end I went for a hand painted finish and I’ll tell you right now I don’t regret it, it just required a heck of a lot of patience and thin coats of paint alternating between the brush and foam roller.

Tools used:
WD40
Steel Wool
Paper Towel
Mini foam roller
Small paint brush
CIL Smart3 Primer
Benjamin Moore Advance High Gloss
Andrew was kind enough to do the dirty work and remove the dirt and rust with WD40 and steel wool. It took a while to get into all the grooves and clean up the surface, but it’s important to take your time and prep the surface.

We cleaned off the excess WD40 with paper towel and let it dry a bit before coating the entire surface in CIL Smart 3 Primer with a foam roller and small paint brush. Primer will even out the surface and help the top coat stick to the smooth finish. The best technique is to use the small brush to get in the corners and any places the roller won’t fit, and since the foam roller has some flex to it, I went over the brush marks as best as I could to smooth out the finish.
Once 2 coats of primer was applied I coated it in 2-3 coats of Benjamin Moore Advance High Gloss in Mantis Green.
The only issues I had in the end was the paint peeling off a bit where the hinges move, it’s just something I had to accept because of functionality, besides it’s not that noticeable since most of the movable parts of underneath the piece. I find it also adds to the character of the cart.

About the contributor:
Nicole Phillips is a Vancouver based Graphic Designer and blogger.
You can learn more about her at visualheart.com or follow her creative side:
twitter.com/visualheart
pinterest.com/visualheart
instagram.com/visualheart

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Before and After: Mid-Century Modern Cabinet

Jan Halvarson — Fri, 23 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Guest post by Nicole Phillips of visualheart.com

My latest find was a mid-century modern cabinet which originally came from a local art gallery, it was in rough shape with really dry wood veneer and a broken door. Not only was the door broken, but I later discovered that the entire unit was warped (including the door). Andrew ended up sanding off a small section of the door so it could close smoothly, he also had to clamp it to a flat surface to correct the warp as much as possible. Off topic – how cute is that tiny lock above the handle!

The entire cabinet was primed with several coats of white, it was crazy how much the old wood veneer soaked up the paint like a sponge. 3 coats later, the surface was finally ready for me to apply the final coat. I used Benjamin Moore Advance series. This paint is perfect for furniture, it’s high-gloss and self levelling, allowing for a very smooth finish when applied with a mini roller. For this project I used Snowfall White and Tropicana Cabana.

I liked one of my previous makeovers so much I decided to go with that style and paint the interior blue, it’s a nice way to add colour without being too obnoxious.
The legs were in decent enough condition so I opted to leave them wood if they ended up having similar wood tones as the door once the old stain was removed. The door was an issue, I removed the handle, but sadly a big chunk of the wood veneer came off with it, because it was screwed on as well as glued with some kind of super glue! At this point I thought for sure there was no way we could salvage the wood door. There was a big hole that needed to be filled and obviously it wasn’t going to match the original veneer, so I thought we had to paint it, there was no other option. Andrew thought we could sand it down and put a wide handle over it to try and hide it, but after trying that, we knew it would still be visible, plus it would also look like we were trying to hide it.

We both really wanted to salvage the wood grain, so I searched around for some ideas…and couldn’t find anything I loved and that would work for this situation. After some experimenting I decided to go with a leather door pull. I grabbed an old leather belt from the local thrift store and some brass screws from Home Depot and figured it out from there. It was fairly simple to make and I think it turned out pretty good! The best part, it sits flat against the door and hides all the imperfections from the old handle!

Click here for more detailed steps and supplies needed to make your own leather furniture pulls.

Once the door was coated with tung oil and the drawer pull was attached, it all came together. We kept the legs wood even though they were lighter, it picks up the lighter tones in the grain on the door and it’s a nice contrast to all the white.

Nicole Phillips is a Vancouver based Graphic Designer and blogger.
You can learn more about her at visualheart.com or follow her creative side:
twitter.com/visualheart
pinterest.com/visualheart
instagram.com/visualheart

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Cool Antlers

Jan Halvarson — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:24:00 +0000

Well it’s another short week here – things should be back on track and in full swing starting next week but I thought I’d drop in with a little post since I’m loving this space so much from the latest issue of Covet Garden. OCAD grad and photographer, Greg White has a rather eclectic space filled with fun art galore and I couldn’t help but fall in love for that bicycle handle bar and seat(?) above his mantle that is fashioned into a antler type thing by Alex Jowett. Yeah. Love. Also that pinball machine piece in the fireplace. This space makes me want to be this guys friend and hang out and make crafts all day. It also reminds me of my days in Montreal hanging out with my cousin and his friends creating stuff (mostly music and super8’s) and painting murals on the doors of my rented McGill ghetto apartment. Check out a few more choice images below and the rest at covetgarden.com. Photography by Valerie Wilcox.

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DIY: How to Make a Wallet Out of an Old Cowboy Boot!

Jan Halvarson — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:19:00 +0000

What You Need:

one cowboy boot
waxed linen thread (~70” long)
scratch awl
stitching awl
cutting mat
ruler
scissors
rotary cutter
seam ripper
2 craft needles (~2 3/8” long)

*Many of these items are available from your local craft store.
Time: ~ 2 hours (plus overnight drying time)

1. Cut the top part of the boot off.

2. Wash the top part of the boot with dish soap.

3. Hang to dry overnight.

4. Use a seam ripper to remove the pull straps.

5. Cut up along the side piping.

6. Remove the piping strip.

7. The disassembled boot should look like this

8. Use the ruler and rotary cutter to cut a 4” by 6” rectangle out of the front piece of the boot. Start with a horizontal cut just above the vamp.

9. Use the ruler and rotary cutter to cut a 2” by 4” rectangle out of the back piece of the boot.

10. The three pieces should look like this.

11. Use the scratch awl to mark a dot every 1/4” all the way around the larger (4” by 6”) piece. Your dots should be 1/8” in from the edge.

12. Mark dots, in a similar fashion, along three sides of the smaller (2” by 4”) pieces.

13. Pierce the dots with a piercing awl. Tip: put the leather on an old phone book to allow the piercing awl to go through the leather easier

14. The most common way to sew leather is saddle stitching. To start, thread a needle on both ends of a 70” piece of thread.

15. Line up the large leather piece with one of the pocket pieces and insert a needle four holes in from pocket’s edge.

16. Pull the thread through the hole so you have equal lengths of thread on each side.

17. Insert the needle in the next hole and pull through the hole.

18. Insert the other needle into the same hole and pull through the hole.

19. Pull each strand tight to set stitch. You should now have equal lengths of thread on either side of the leather.

20. Continue stitching all the way around, making sure to attach the other pocket when you get to the other side

21. Backstitch over your last stitch and pull each strand of thread between the two pieces of leather.

22. Tie the two strands with 2-3 overhand knots and cut the excess threads.

23. There you have it! Enjoy!

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