Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Project showoff, or The blue line is gone!

I did it! Almost completely. For a long time, I've wanted a family picture wall. I'd seen pics in magazines and such of mismatched yet coordinating frames displaying great family pics. I decided it was time to make one of my own. About three months ago. So I started collecting frames from everywhere I went; Target, Michaels, Big Lots, Aaron Bros, yard sales, JoAnns, my garage, and pulled out my stash of old family photos. I had the perfect wall in our dining area, but you know you can't just start banging holes in a wall to hang up a variety of mismatched yet coordinating photos. You must have a plan. There must be balance and composition and a unifying theme. So I designated our living room floor as the staging place. I measured the available space on the dining room wall and taped off the same amount of space on our living room carpet. Did you know that if you leave blue painter's tape on your carpet for three months that not all the sticky residue will actually come off? Now you do. Did you know that my dh is the most patient and supportive man on the planet? Now you do.
So I moved pictures around, gathered a few family photos I needed. Made scans and prints and did some research (who is this guy anyway?) Don't tell anyone, but I used a hot glue gun for mounting family heirloom shadowbox items. I endured jokes from visitors, "What happens if I cross the blue line?" Ha ha. I rip your head off because don't you dare step on my fam. And at last I was ready.
Again, my fabulous dh came to my aid. Very patiently and logically he hung every single picture in the exact relative position that I'd arranged on the floor in the next room. Even the ones that I changed my mind about at the last minute.
You may notice, if you are scrutinizing closely enough, that there is one fake pic, and one without a photo. I need glass for one frame, and the blank white box is the future spot for a shadowbox frame that I have to special order. In it will be displayed a beautiful crocheted doily made by dh's gma. Don't freak out, I promise not to use the hot glue gun on it.
Oh, and the black oval on the far right is a wooden warrior mask dh and I bought in Hawaii years ago. It is not an actual resemblance of any known family member. But if it were, I'm sure it would be from my side of the family. I hope to pick up a few more photos from my mom this summer and put them where the mask is. I'll probably still fit the mask in somewhere. BTW, this wall is adjacent to the wall with the pretty new curtains that I blogged about here.
And I admit I totally staged this photo. I kicked the full laundry baskets out of the pic and gathered up the tablecloth, papers, maps, catalogs and all and threw it on the floor. I snapped the pic then put it all back. On a more serious note, looking at all those pics made me ponder my ancestors, their families, their challenges and happinesses. What were their hopes and fears for their children? I almost envy that the worst thing they could probaby imagine for their children was death. That may seem morbid, but today's evils are so much more subtle and devious. I was warned by a friend recently about a song that would be playing during one of our family's favorite TV shows. I'm not going to advertise the song or the singer, but some of the lyrics included lines that said experimenting with homosexual behavior is "no big deal" and "innocent." Wouldn't it be easier just to worry that your kid would get kicked when milking the cows or fall out of the covered wagon? But those are not the times we live in. My church has recently asked us to support this effort to protect traditional marriage in CA: ProtectMarriage.com is a growing, broad-based coalition of organizations, churches, and individuals who believe that marriage’s foremost purpose is the raising of healthy children in a family with a mom and a dad. I have included their link in my sidebar too. Please take a look at their website and contribute even if you don't live in CA. This state has a large influence on the rest of the country, for good or evil. I look at the pictures of my ancestors who lived through wars, depressions and immigrating to an unknown country. They were all doing the best they could to provide a better life for their children and future posterity. I guess we are just trying to do the same thing.

7 comments:

Elise said...

I love what you've done!! Looks great!! I am with you on the choice of artist on that show. I thought it was in poor taste for a family show. And the singer used to be a Christian singer. Its sad...
Elise

Char @ Crap I've Made said...

Looks great! I'll have to remember the blue line strategy next time. I usually cut every single shape out of brown paper and tape them to the wall.

Company EIGHT said...

Love the blue line idea--I will have to try that!

It really turned out well; you're right, it's the perfect wall!

Lauri said...

You're photo wall looks fabulous! Felicity just saw the picture and said, "I know that place. I sat right there."

As for the show and the song, we changed channels for that number... like I need my girls hearing that!

Clark Club said...

Your picture wall looks great! I have one too. I am a bit more compulsive. When I want to do a projcet, I want it done fast. I bought all of the frames at DI in one day and painted them with black toll paint- the wood, plastic, and even the leather ones. You wouldn't believe it, but it looks great. My favorite picture is one with my grandpa as a young boy (guessing age 9) and his mom. He is wearing a sailor suit and she is wearing a long string of beads tied in a knot and a wide brimmed hat. I also have a picture from a Provo High graduating class sometime in the 1920s with Brian's grandpa and my grandma both in it. How cool is that? My grandma pulled it out when Brian and I were engaged. You'll have to see my wall when you are in utah.

smart mama said...

looks great- and my compliments on being a good mom who takes a stand on moral issues!

Anonymous said...

I love that wall - I want to do that somewhere in my house someday.