How to Hang Photo Wires

It's no secret: I like to hang things on strings. Especially photos. At the end of my life, I want someone to find a shoebox of photos in the back of my attic that show that I lived my life well. So getting prints of my photos is important.

Displaying my photos is also important. Looking at the computer is one thing, but sitting on my couch and glancing at them is another. So when I saw the long wall in the dining room that faced the couch where I'd spend a lot of my time, I knew that's where I wanted to hang a photo wire. I can look at it all day and swap it out whenever I want. Handy.

Hanging one is easy. You need twine (or actual wire, if you're so inclined), a few nails, a yard stick or level or something to help you line up your nails (I used our Swiffer's handle), and clothespins. Figure out how far apart you want your nails and center them on the wall -- eyeballing usually works, but you need a helper. Mark the wall with pencil, hammer your nails, and tie off one side of your twine. Leave some give for your swoop and loosely tie the other side, then start hanging the photos to see how much give you have in your twine and how much of a swoop you want. Adjust from there.

When it's how you'd like it, tie the knots tight and position your photos. It's easiest to get the pictures to hang straight if you clip the photo and the twine into the lowest part of the clothespin (below the gap where the clothesline should go). It will give you the most control so you're photos aren't hanging this way and that.

See how simple (and colorful) that was?

Home Decorating: Things on Strings

It was yesterday when we finally took down the Christmas decorations. We should have waited until today and pretended like we were celebrating Epiphany. The truth is, we just got lazy. The plan was to take them down on January 1.

Some things went back up to the attic and a few are still lingering around. We strung twinkle lights up over the windows in the living room, which brightens up the room quite a bit. And I took this garland that was wrapped around the tree and hung it over our bed. It's not much, but it makes our plain and boring bedroom feel a little more festive.

We now have a definite decorative theme here: things on strings. We have two inspiration wires, a banner hanging over the kitchen window, twinkle lights in the living room, and now this garland over our bed. Apparently, bakers' twine can be a very dangerous thing.

Mirrors & Inspiration Wires

Thriftiness knows no bounds in this house, especially in decorating. I bought these mirrors at Target for $5 a pop, and they show every bit of wonkiness a cheap mirror should (meaning my hip doesn't jut out like that). But our dark living room called for some light-bouncing goodness, and they fit the bill.

Above them is a little strand of twine so I can swap out photos and cards at whim. I've always wanted my own little "inspiration wire" and it was much easier to hang than I guessed. I mean, why didn't I do this before?

[On wire, left to right: Lily's birthday, a Laura Crow Miller postcard from Jenni, Lily at three weeks, a postcard from my friend Jorge, two day-old Lily, and a print from abby try again.

A Few Thoughts on Style

Did you ever see the episode of Friends where Phoebe hates Pottery Barn? She insists that everyone ends up with the same stuff. As our home decorating is starting to come together, I've been thinking a lot about how slow it is to build piece by piece and how much easier it would be to walk into a store like Rooms To Go and pick out a living room. A living room like a million other living rooms. A living room that looks like a showroom. No, thank you.

Our home is filled with hand-me-downs and garage sale finds with a few new pieces thrown in. And for a long time it hasn't really gelled (maybe it still doesn't). But I like the idea of taking it one step at a time, taking risks, and being unique. I don't want to walk into someone else's house and see my own decor.

My way requires a lot of patience (and painting), but I'm hoping by the time I'm 40 and living in our own house Adam and I will have built a collection of pieces that reflect our family's style. I'm also banking on us owning a house before I turn 40.

While Lily Napped, I Sewed

Remember this? Operation Decorate. Somewhere along the way it went on hiatus, but today while Lily napped I pulled out my sewing machine and my fabric stash and whipped these pillow covers together. I made both with an envelope back so they can be removed and thrown the wash. They make a vibrant addition to our living room, no?

I think so. Now onto finishing the coffee table we picked up from the flea market.

At the Flea Market

When I told Adam I wanted to go to the flea market, he told me to get ready for a redneck experience. Um, isn't that part of the appeal of flea markets? The odd collections, the airbrush t-shirts, the old men in overalls?

I hoisted the one year old into the sling and the three of us spent Saturday morning wandering around the flea market (our yard sale is postponed to next week). Periodically I'd mutter something about wishing we had a record player or $65 for one of those beautiful blue bottles or a chicken coop. I'd love to have some chickens, especially after reading the latest issue of Organic Gardening (I'm not exactly sure how, but we have a subscription), but like so many things, it's not in the cards right now.

We left with some produce and a free coffee table, which I've sanded and primed and plan to paint with antique glaze. It should be a nice addition to the living room when all is said and done.

The Green Couch

The best way to sum up today? I'll quote my friend Justin: Green couches for the win! A green couch and a tweedy chair to celebrate the greenest day of them all. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Furnished, Discussed, Doted

Welcome to our new couch. Sort of. The fabric color is right, but the couch design will look more like this. We found ourselves with an abundant refund from the Federal government and decided it was time to upgrade the couch/chair situation in our living room. Our current furniture is old -- we've had it since we married almost five years ago, and Adam's parents had it for who knows how long before that. The cushions sag, the springs boing when you sit on it, and the fabric has pilled. Suffice it to say, it's time for an upgrade. In about a month, this gorgeous green will flood our living room. Hi, green!

In other news . . .

Last night was our first book group discussion on The Time Traveler's Wife. It was insightful and interesting to hear what others thought of this book. What I'm most surprised about is how easy it is to say just say no to social drinking. I thought I'd be pining the entire time. I guess it helps to know I have Sunday to graciously break my fast and toast the resurrected Lord.

Tonight Adam and I put Lily in her jammies and headed to church. During Lent there is a bread and broth meal offered (though it was no plain broth tonight. We had the most amazing bean and sausage soup. I asked for the recipe it was so good.) and then a short service. No childcare meant a baby between us in the pew, but all the older ladies relished at the baby sounds and doted all over Lily. If she hadn't been so ready for bed, I'm sure she would have eaten it up.

How We Operate

Operation Decorate | Includes but is not limited to:
:: painting bookshelf (see blue above)
:: painting dresser (see yellow above)
:: making curtains for the kitchen window
:: purchasing this poster
:: sewing pillow covers
:: framing photos (and ordering a few more from Snapfish)
:: making this wreath to hang above the fireplace
:: rearranging the living room furniture

So far, the bookshelf is almost finished. I have a lot of work ahead of me.Operation 5252 | I'm a bit ahead of schedule, having read two books already. But I'm spinning my tires a bit with Considering the Lobster. I just don't really like it and fear I may be the only one, as I've heard nothing but good things from people about David Foster Wallace and this book in particular. I'm also making my way slowly through Walking on Water, treating it more like a devotional and taking in only small chunks at a time.

Operation Sleep | This is not going so well. I've been having trouble falling asleep and I'm falling down tired. I have no idea what's going on.

Operation Church | We had lunch with the pastors (a husband and wife) of the new church we've been attending. At a pub. It was great -- football, greasy food, great conversation.

One thing in particular: The wife is a former wedding photographer who still dabbles in photography. She told me about a photography club in town, and we're planning to go to a meeting together.

Also: We really love this church. I don't know that I've ever been so excited about church before.

The Kitchen Wall

What happens when a bunch of photos show up from Snapfish, photos that cost a mere nine cents a pop?

What happens when you have a boring blank wall with an ugly plug in the middle and no practical way to cover it?

What happens when a roll of masking tape is pulled from the door and ripped into loop after loop?

A kitchen wall collage is born, and is it purdy! Let's call it step one of Operation Decorate.