DIY Times - Decorative Art

I suspected I would start making things when I got on Arkansas time. Out of necessity, I made some decorative art.

I followed this DIY for this one.


I'm really happy with it because it works no matter which way the canvas is turned and your eye keeps moving. And there's glitter. I kind-of totally free-handed the shapes, so I could continue to clean it up. It looks good in photos.

Next project:  I needed to cover this big column and I love this Marimekko pattern, but I don't live down the street from a Marimekko store anymore, and sometimes I'm impatient and didn't want to order the fabric online and then make a stretch canvas, so...  This was much cheaper anyway.


I read that the artist made the shapes to look like chunky cut-out circles so I used masking tape to make a similar effect and try to have sharp edges.



I just used acrylic paint for both of these. I never felt like I had the time or space to do things like this in NYC. 

Technical Ingenuity

Our last computer we bought, we decided to be mature and not put bootleg software or boosted music on it. Everything on this computer is pure and legal. That's why I have Photoshop (elements) and I do not have Dreamweaver, I make my website with a free outfit called Kompozer (a free HTML editor) I do like Kompozer, it's like Dreamweaver lite. I use filezilla for FTP.

Since my fundraiser is over, and I have brand new, awesome professional photos, I took this rainy Sunday to re-do my website - JPHardee.com

I wanted this navigation menu, and I did some slicing to get the desired result.


I literally wrote up what I was going to call/name my slices so I could basically go data-entry style on setting them up. Sometimes I jot down HTML color codes. 


And it turned out like this:


It all came together pretty quickly, so I'm happy. This is a new, simple design to last at least through the summer.

Yesterday we had a daytime drinking birthday party, so we got drunk super early, rode bikes up the West Side Greenway to stay away from cars, passed out before 10pm and woke up so early today.
I've had a most productive day.

After I made-over my website, I remembered that someone asked for a photo of my necklace on a pure white background. I had researched how to make a DIY light box but had no supplies.

I was sitting on my bedroom floor and noticed this Ikea storage container in my wardrobe. I dumped out the contents and turned it into my light box.


If I had not grown-up as a poor, only-child in Arkansas, I do not think I would have the ingenuity to think of stuff like this.



I got my necklace photo so clean, I was able to isolate it and put it on a transparent background.

This felt like a huge personal triumph in photoshop.

My 1st Baby Shower Banner - Phase 1

I've been really nervous about building my first baby shower banner for the shower that Meredith and I are hosting at the end of the month. I haven't even attended many showers - let alone made things for them. Thank goodness Mere is a Black-Belt party hostess.

The theme of the shower is Lilly Pulitzer Desert Tort theme, because we are Delta Zetas - Pink & Green. We've got all the desert Tort Stuff - Napkins, cups, plates, gift wrap and I got Desert Tort items to give the Baby Mama we are honoring. I got the watch, we even had the invitations.


Most people do circle baby shower banners or little triangle-shaped flags. It seems like most people want something they can print. I told Matt these general statistics and I said "It doesn't seem like many people just do the big cut-out letters." And craft advisor that he is, said "Well, I think you know the answer then."

These letters are 8" tall.


Tomorrow or Wed. I'll embellish them with flowers and/or many other things that I've collected for this and lastly, string them onto some ribbon for hanging. Tonight they're being pressed so the spray-mount really mounts. Yep- I'm pressing these in a Gore Vidal book. I hope someone appreciates this. My gay play-brother will.


I used Watercolor Paper instead of card-stock b/c it's more rigid and I have a BFA. Just kidding. I picked it b/c I know it's thick and it was on sale.