Artwork on Demand

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this before, but one of my favorite things is to find artwork in unconventional ways.  Such as taking old calendars or book pages and adding your own custom or store bought frame.  Or if you're looking for something different with a touch of history, you should try visiting Vintage Printables.  This site has a mass collection of public domain images.  If you can sift your way through the somewhat confusing navigation, then you will find vintage images from old Playboy covers (totally G rated!) to botanical and animal prints and mythological creatures to antique denistry tools.  Just click and download the image and print anyway you like.

Bicycles via Vintage Printables

Catesby duck via Vintage Printables

1923 Playboy cover via Vintage Printables

3-color process via Vintage Printables

Livres de fleures via Vintage Printables

Vain Valentine via Vintage Printables

Mythological mermaid via Vintage Printables

Cathy - at HomeGoods Diva Decorating site - had the same idea as me.  She took the images from Cavallini's Natural Wonders 2008 calendar and used the beautiful sea prints with French text in the background to frame and display above her mantle.

Calendar prints turned into fresh artwork

I have pages from the same calendar framed in my room, however I'm thinking about switching them out for images from Cavallini's Vintage Maps 2011 calendar.  Cavallini papers are some of my favorite to frame.  They are a good size and printed on a thick off-white paper stock.  The colors just pull you in.

I'm into the whole map thing right now for framed art!

Cavallini has a nice collection of large calendars to choose from, but they do sell out quick so I would grab one now before the holiday (wow so soon!) shopping begins.

One chair, some spray paint and a touch of velvet

Okay so I'm hoping this post puts a little pep in my step.  You see I purchased this chair off Craigslist.  I got it for only $20 with the intention of giving it a little TLC and turning it into a beautiful masterpiece! This is my first DIY project when it comes to furniture makeovers - and I still have high hopes, I just need a much higher level of motivation.  You see, when I bought the chair it had a dark stain finish.  I stripped the wood (it took FOREVER) down to the bare essentials and sanded and sanded and sanded.  Then I moved on to spray painting, which is what you see today.  Actually, I have done a little detail work since and hand painted some of the pretty little edges and flowers in a light gray.  It looks pretty good I think!  So back to where I originally started... I needed to post this picture so I could get excited about the soon-to-be (crossing my fingers!) outcome.  Next steps: take the chair to The Cane'ery to get the bottom re-caned.  And then the cushion (not pictured) that came with, is getting a makeover all its own - a luxe charcoal velvet fabric will replace the old and gross calico print.

Before

See the pretty details!

 I'm really excited about using velvet for the cushions.  I'm in awe of what this fabric can do to such traditional chairs! Ooooo la la!

Pink velvet Louis chairs

And I'll take both of these too please!

Blue velvet arm chairs