Picture this

After many, many requests for framing options, I went looking all over Albuquerque for decorative and affordable frames. I think these vintage frames are the perfect complement to the nostalgic style of my photography. So now, selected prints are available in vintage frames! There are several different frames that will soon be available in my Etsy shop in addition to these.

"Where were you going?" in the oval "Vanilla Latte" frame.

"Ranunculus No. 2" in the square "Silver Lining"frame.

Each frame has been cleaned up, but still has that aged and distressed vintage look. They are sealed in the back with brown framing paper to protect the prints. These frames can be propped up in a display or hung with the claw hanger on the back. I just love them. They remind me of the framed family pictures that hung in the hallway at my grandmother's house.

Secretary Desk: Mission Accomplished!

Around Christmas I found this awesome secretary desk on the side of the road with a giant "FREE" sign stuck to the front of it.  I immediately pulled over and loaded it into the back of the car.  I'm sure people were staring as they were driving by, but I had hit the furniture jackpot and I wasn't about to leave it on the side of the road! 

This is what the desk looked like when I first picked it up.  It had so much potential.  What crazy person would have thrown this out!?

There was a weird, thin layer of shiny wood on the outside of the drawers.  It was cracking and peeling off anyway, so I chipped the rest of it off with a paint scraper and a hammer. Don't worry, I was wearing goggles.  I'm a photographer!  If something happens to my eyes its all over!  The whole thing was super wobbly, so I had to break off the legs and re-attach them to make it more stable.  

Once I got it all cleaned up I primed the desk.  I sort of liked the way that it looked with just the primer.  But I continued on with the original plan anyway.

This is what the secretary desk looks like now.  I love it!  The color is "Black Suede" and I think it looks so slick!

In the inside there is an added surprise.  I couldn't just leave it all black, there needed to be color somewhere.  I searched high and low for the perfect paper to use on the inside.  I finally found this paper at Paper Source and just fell in love with it.

I am so proud of this desk.  It really fits in with the rest of our condo and the paper on the inside adds an extra pop of color.  Since we are renting our condo, we can't paint the walls. Ugh!  Everything is very tan and white so I try to sneak in some color wherever I can.

Quote for the day:

"You will achieve a grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day.  Not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow.  Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won't have to drag today's undone matters into tomorrow.  Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours.  Be patient.  Never allow your day to become so cluttered that you neglect your most important goal: to do the best you can, enjoy this day, and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished."

-- Og Mandino