How to Make a Collage Painting

I found these old paintings at consignment stores, salvation army, goodwill.  No one really wants a painting of someone they don't know so I got these pretty cheap.  It's better to get oil paintings that don't have too much texture, it makes it harder to cut up.

1  First come up with your design.  I was inspired by someone else's design and I knew it would work perfectly in our showhouse dining room design.

Design inspiration

2  Decide on the size you want it to be and make sure you have a table large enough to work on it.  I stood the whole time to make this.  The size I choose was 36" x 48", quite large!

3  Shop for supplies:

Canvas (stretched already at a hobby store, unless you know how to stretch your own)

Acrylic paints in the colors of your design/match old paintings

Cutting board (you can use wood or several layers of card board if you don't have a cutting mat)

Exacto knife with lots of blades ( you will have to change them often)

Pencil

Ruler (metal for cutting)

Acrylic matte gel (pictured below) You don't have to get very much.  I used about 1 cup for my       painting.

Old Oil Paintings

4  Draw your design on your canvas with a pencil

Draw your design

5  Start painting - it makes a nice background to your collage when your pieces don't quite match up.

Start Painting

Design is painted!

I painted the yellow stripes on the edge because I may not frame it or I may frame it with a gallery frame and I wanted them to continue.

 6  Paint the background. I went with white because I wanted it nice a crisp.

Painting is done,  now start the collage... 

7  Start cutting your old paintings.  I did mine by color.  I cut the canvas off the stretchers from the front.  I didn't bother removing the staples and unwrapping the canvas.  I just cut it off.  Fast and easy.  I cut only a few strips at a time because I had to measure towards the end of each color to get the angles right.

Cut the canvas - you can cut it from the back or the front.

I numbered them after I placed them on the canvas to remember the order to glue.

 8  Start gluing.  Use the Acrylic matte gel - apply a light coat to the canvas and to the back of the strip.  Cover completely with gel.  Use your fingers to press it into place.  Don't worry about getting it all over the canvas or strips, it dries clear.  I could only apply 6-10 strips at a time and I would have to wash my hands so I wouldn't get dried glue on the painting as I smoothed over the strips.

Apply gel to canvas

Apply gel to the back of the canvas strip.  I used a piece of cardboard to do this.

9  After gluing about 10 strips. you have to turn the painting over and put books on it so they won't curl up.  It has to dry about an 1 hour then repeat.  It won't be completely dry but enough to continue. Repeat until done.

I did one section at a time

I tried to leave something recognizable in each section from the original painting (notice the pink ear)

Making progress...I left the yellow stripes painted as a contrast to the collage.

 10  After I was done with the collage, I repainted the background and filled in gaps I didn't like and repainted the yellow stripes again.  Signed it and I was done!  You can go over the collage area with the gel if you want to give it a top coat.  They make gloss too.

It's tedious, but cathartic ~  happy collaging! Brandy

Historic Tyler Spring Home Tour - The Designer Showcase

This past weekend was the 2013 Historic Tyler Home Tour. Each year, beautiful historic homes are chosen to be on the tour. Visitors get a chance to tour 4-5 houses over the weekend. In addition to the tour, one house is chosen to be the Designer Showcase where designers around town get to decorate one room in the home.

Brandy and I were chosen to design the dining room and we are excited to reveal it to you today!!!

Here's what we started with:

This is the design rendering (sketch) of the dining room, and, wait for it...

The finished product! We decided to nix the yellow stripe on the other walls because of time constraints. We only had a day and a half to set all this up!

Let's take a little tour around the room:

We wanted to in-coporate this 1950's radio/record player as a buffet but it was just a little too short. So, we layered an acrylic console over it to bring up the height. It looks awesome! This gave us the chance to add books and bowls underneath and they looked so cool through the clear console. 

Do you recognize these chairs? If you follow my on facebook you know that these were my garage sale find! I had them recovered in this gorgeous fabric and they were they perfect fit for the space. That door you see is a sliding barn door that leads to the kitchen. 

The lounge chair on the other side of the room. The lamp you see is a vintage lab stand that we wrapped this teal cord pendant through. Can you spot our gold-dipped firewood! It was the talk of the show!

Another huge hit was the gallery picture ledge wall. This was a big statement for a small cost. 

Here's a wide angle shot of the entire space. 

This is our design sketch for the other side of the room

And here's the actual space

Brandy and I had a great time designing and implementing the dining room of this fabulous mid-century modern home. It was a long weekend but well worth it. We are already looking forward to next year!

Be checking the blog for the next week because we will be detailing the projects and give how-to instructions on how you can get the look in your home!

~Jessica

The Woodlands, Texas

My family had our second trip to The Woodlands, Texas (North of Houston).  Actually, my son's best friend moved there and we were picking him up from his Spring Break visit.  

The first time I visited was to cheer on my brother-in-law who was participating in the Ironman Texas a couple a years ago.  We volunteered to hand out drinks during the biking portion.  Those of you who don't know what an Ironman is, well it's amazing.  It's a 2.4-mile swim /112-mile bike/ 26.2-mile run.  A really long day! The next Ironman Texas is in The Woodlands on May 18, 2013.  (If you are thinking of racing, sorry it's already booked)  After wondering all over The Woodlands that weekend, I liked it and thought "I could live here".  

Me handing out water at the Ironman

It was worth a trip back just to hang out and enjoy the township.  The Woodlands is a master-planned community full of trails, woods, parks, neighborhoods (they call "Villages") that range from apartments to mansions, shopping, entertainment venues, golf and restaurants.  So nothing is far and it's setting is picturesque (if you like trees).   All the commercial building have a sign ordinance that has height and size restrictions.  You really can't see the signs from the road, so you have to know your directions and street names because there are no landmarks.  I love the whole vibe of the town, a little urban and suburban mix.  Technically, it's called a mixed-use community where commercial and residential with mixed incomes all co-exist in a small area.  (Mixed-use development is — in a broad sense — any urban, suburban or village development, or even a single building, that blends a combination of residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses, where those functions are physically and functionally integrated, and that provides pedestrian connections.)

With these beautiful planned communities, design and landscaping have strict regulations.  This is definitely something to consider if you want to live in one.  You can't cut down a tree without replacing it.  You can't change anything without permission.  There is a long list of when, what and how often to do things like trash and cutting the grass (which must be cut once a week).  Most likely the villages are strictly monitored and you probably will receive pictures of your violations. But that's what makes it remain the beauty it is.  I personally love a planned community!

We had one Saturday to explore, so we went for a walk/run, brunch, shopping (Anthropologie of course) and visit with friends.

View of Street

 We walked to the Town Center from our hotel, so I took some pictures along with way.  Most of the roads have paths.

Example of the shop signs

Street lamps near Town Center

Yellow Lamborghini

 I couldn't help myself!  Who drives a 1/2 million dollar car?

Pathways are nice and wide

Bridge at Waterway Square

There is about 1.5 mile loop around the waterway that is great for running and biking.   

Boat House 

Mosaic murals under the bridge

So after a 4 mile run and walk, we went to have brunch at the Black Walnut Cafe.  The weather was beautiful and the food was great!  

Eggs Benedict

Yum!  

 About The Woodlands, Texas

It was a great day and visit to the Woodlands.  I plan to go back!  What do you think of planned mixed-use communities?  Are you for or against them? ~Brandy

Makeover Monday

Today I am going to give you a little sneak peek at some really cool furniture we just got back from the upholsterer. Brandy and I both love to re-purpose vintage finds into fun modern pieces that will sure to look great in your home.

First up was this little guy, a super cute upholstered vanity stool. The fabric however was dated and blah.

So, a little John Robshaw later and this stool is looking fabulous.

The legs were upholstered as well so instead of just using the same fabric, we decided to have a little fun....

We covered them in a bright red-orange cotton velvet!

Next up...

Your typical chippendale sofa in dated fabric and dated wood finish. 

Yards of fabric later and it became this....

We had the legs stripped to have a more natural finish and then covered it in this really soft grey modern plaid. And for that touch of whimsy we had some pillows made out of this modern bike print from Duralee. 

Don't worry, these beautiful pieces will soon be for sale on our website www.twineinteriors.com!

~Jessica

Green Inspiration

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's some green inspiration!

MGBW Major Chair Satin Brass Finish in Venice Emerald $1,245

I love this chair in any color!

Anthropologie Farmer Market Basket, Small $14

What a great way to bring color to your counters or refrigerator!

Love the plate art- must remember to do this sometime since I love dishes!

Lamps Plus, Sydnee Satin Emerald Green Drum Lamp Shade $39.99

This would be perfect for those pair of hoof lamps we bought....you may be seeing this on our website soon!

Crate and Barrel Grass Letter Holder $9.95

I want this for my desk

This is my favorite tile and I want it in my kitchen floor to ceiling!  Dreaming...someday

Kendra Scott Dayla Earring in Mint $65.00

Fabulous!

Moss Screen

This is so cool- Note to self ....Office 

Designed by Miles Redd

Oh, ahh...

I love a great banquet!

Crate and Barrel Vienna Apple Side Chair $109.65

Super cute in a breakfast room

Yum

Click here for the recipe  Your Cup of Cake

Wisteria Crewelwork Pillows $79 each

 Fresh Pillows

Succulents

I'm into succulents (especially since I can't keep most plants alive, these seem to survive!)

Jessica, Co-CEO Twine 

Doesn't Jessica look fabulous in green! 

Have a green weekend! ~Brandy