Whatever Happened to the Custom Hungarian Pillows?

Have you wondered what happened with the hand cut Hungarian felt pillows I was agonizing over?  It's not a gripping tale, but I hate to leave you hanging.

Thanks to your awesome help, I made a decision!  I decided on four yellow on yellow wool pillows, for a colourful, textural statement in the guest room.  Then I decided to get two cream ones for the office.  Splurge indeed!  Pretty much at the last minute (I needed to allow 6 weeks to order), I went to the shop at 4:00 p.m. one day.  The market the shop is in closed at 6:00 p.m. that day, but this vendor was already gone.  The sign said the shop was open until 6:00 p.m. but everything was closed.  When I had the time again, I went back to the market, to see what other stock colours they had or to see if there was a chance to order, but they were packed up at 3:00 p.m.!  At that point, I was too irritated to try again.  I really shouldn't have to work hard to part with my money for frivolous things, right??  Happily, my Mom had decided maybe she went a little pillow crazy and gave me two of her cream ones.  So I'm not completely pillow-less, like last time.

If I'm being honest, I'm disappointed I didn't get a custom set of these amazing pillows, but I'm also relieved my plans were thwarted because six pillows would have been a lot of vroom vroom.  I bought some other expensive treats I haven't even told you about, so I think it worked out for the best.

In any case, the cream pair looks amazing in the office and they don't compete with the silhouettes, patterned office chair, patterned guest room chair (looming in the distance), and busy expedit hack.  The texture of the pillow shows up much more in real life and the colour is actually a much creamier shade than the walls - more like the backgrounds of some of the silhouettes.  I'm happy.  And so is Hubby.  He hates pillows. 

P.S.  How many photos of these pillows will I make you look at?  Just one more.

How to Use Scrapbook Paper to Create a Picture "Mat"

It's cheapskate mat week on Dans le Townhouse!  Just kidding.  But I have been on a "frame my new souvenir art for as little as possible because vroom vroom" kick.  

When I bought the Ikea frames for the enamel paintings, I also looked for a frame for the quirky print I bought in Budapest.  When Ikea failed to deliver, I headed to Michael's.  The print is, unfortunately, not exactly a standard size.  Happily, at Michael's I found a pretty white floating frame that fit the bill (and was half off).  But white print + white frame, against our white walls . . . I worried the print might disappear.  As I meandered my way to the till, I spotted the scrapbook section.  Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the mind-blowing variety of scrapbook paper?  I was seriously overwhelmed, but I found two sheets I liked - a rich teal and a softer turquoise, both with the same embossed polka dot pattern.  I asked Hubby which he liked better (the teal).  I cut each to size and affixed the colour that got Hubby's vote behind the print with double sided tape - instant "mat"!  The other colour was placed facing outward on the reverse.  It's easy to swap the colours when Hubby's not looking (and fun to see how long it takes for him to realize), but the back also looks more finished, which I like.

If you're curious, the print is by Tascali David.  "Lesz" is a Hungarian word that sounds like "less" and the saying means, roughly, "it will be how it will be," a spin on "it is what it is" - which is an expression Hubby loathes, so this print cracks me up.       

The back is pretty, too! (The teal and turquoise look less similar in real life).

I set the framed print on the mantle along with the little oil painting Mom bought me.  Not sure how long it will loiter there . . . I still need to find the perfect spot.  At least it's out of my suitcase and in a frame.  That's progress!

I'm definitely hooked on floating frames (for everything from antique postcards to hand painted note cards), and now I've added scrapbook paper to the mix.  Coupled with Tuesday's painted background trick, I'm out of ideas for replacing custom mats.  For now... 

What are your nifty tricks for framing awkward things?

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How to Inexpensively Frame Oddly Sized Art, Without a Custom Mat!

Remember the enamel art I bought at the Christmas Fair when I was in Budapest?  I still love how each piece is the same Hungarian landscape in four different seasons.  Since I have now officially spent time in Hungary during each season, these mean a lot to me.  The original framing was a bit traditional and bulky, so I asked if I could purchase them without frames to save some money and also to make them easier to pack.  Honestly, they never would have fit in my suitcase like this:
 

BEFORE

I knew they'd fit in simple, white Ikea Ribba frames, but I figured I'd have to spring for custom mats.  When I got them home and bought some frames, however, I realized custom matting might be tricky.  In addition to not being square, each piece is slightly convex.  The original matting was imperfect too.  Not to worry! Hubby & I came up with the genius idea to avoid custom mats but still create a polish look: paint the cardboard mounts!

Here are the enamel pieces, unframed and mounted on their cardboard backing:

Using a really small angled brush with firm bristles, I carefully painted around the enamel with some leftover paint (the same blackish greyish mystery mis-tint I used for the railing, the custom frame for the black white painting, the dipped stool and about a million other DIY projects.  I love this magic colour).  Here's what they looked like when I was done painting the cardboard mount:

I let the paint dry a few days to fully cure, then I popped the enamel landscapes into four Ikea frames.  I love, love, love the result.  The little strip of almost-black makes each piece POP and keeps them from getting lost against the white frames, mat, and walls.  I opted to hang them in a vertical row between the curtains.  That space always needed something.

Even from a distance, these little gems still pack some punch and I like how they connect the cooler and warmer colours in both the living and dining room.  Plus, the black makes sense with the black accents splashed around both space, including the frame of the new dining room painting and the curtain rods.  I'll definitely consider just painting a backdrop (even if I have to mount it on some cardboard myself) the next time I have some art that needs a custom mat. 

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Touring the Budapest Christmas Fair + Craft Market in Vörösmarty Square

Sad-sack me clearly needed a little pick-me-up over the weekend, so we headed to the Budapest Christmas fair and I bought a puppet: 

I am totally normal for buying this puppet because it's a gift for my niece and I have NO plans to buy one for myself.  It is handmade by an adorable older couple and the gentlemen just sits there, puppeting (is that a word?), so it's impossible not to get draw into their booth.  Actually, the whole market is delightful and chock full of eye candy.  But can you believe these artisans will be freezing their tushies off in this outdoor market all December???   

Of course we couldn't leave with just a puppet!  Mom bought this pair of oil paintings . . .

. . . and bought me one too!

Then I bought a set of four enamel paintings.  They are the same landscape in spring, summer, fall and winter.  I had to buy the set because, come December 21st, I will have visited Hungary in all four seasons!  But I asked for them sans frames (and the price was lower as a result) so they will be easier to bring home and I can frame them to suit the townhouse. 

I bought this day timer as well (am I the only person still using these?) and the vintage Budapest map on it features - of all the neighborhoods - my exact apartment!  I'm loving these sentimental, made-for-me treats.  Maybe this is my karma coming around?

When Hubby comes for a visit, he will have to learn to live without gotch and socks because I am going to need a good chunk of his suitcase space for these treasures.

Have you started hitting any holiday craft shows?  Seeing all of the hard work and creativity that went into these 100 or so booths made me really happy and inspired.  

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Budapest Design Week: Kreatim and Nemurimuri

Budapest Design Week (er, month more like) has had no shortage of markets, fairs and strange names.  We decided to take a look at Kreatim, an artisan market held four times per year, housed in the amazing 

Iparművészeti Múzeum (museum of applied arts).

With a roof like this, you just know there are good things inside:

Like this ceiling.  My gosh:

Because there was a small admission fee, we took the opportunity to take in the museum exhibits, also, including an amazing art deco exhibit where I managed to snap one forbidden photo for you.  I am 100% going to weld some nested tables just. like. these.
 

Kreatim:

The admission fee also had the welcome side effect of smaller crowds and, overall, delightfully fewer instances of pushing, shoving and being touched by strangers.  Which I am learning is a privilege I have taken for granted back home (the not being touched by random people at random times.  I often feel like a sardine here - we will walk 5km home to avoid the packed streetcar, but that's another story for another day.  Back to the pretties).

 

We didn't buy anything from this market (applause, please, for the restraint we exercised), although I am tempted to buy some of Mester Borbala's prints of Budapest, that feature abstracted city scenes mixed with Hungarian text.

I go weak in the knees for anything with text (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C), and Hungarian text is just extra enticing (exhibit D).  I still need some thinking time, though.  Like I mentioned yesterday, Hungary & I have a history of bad decisions. 

Parliament, Image from Mester's Blog

Image from Mester's Blog

The streetcar stop that takes us to the library; Image from Mester's Blog

Nemurinmuri:

 
At Nemurimuri, a market/installation (that was so wee, we almost walked right by), we did take the plunge and pulled out the Hungarian Forints.  We each bought this cute print by Tascali David ("lesz" is a Hungarian word that sounds like "less" and the saying means, roughly, "it will be how it will be," a spin on our "it is what it is" - which is an expression Hubby despises, so I only love this more).

Imagine a whole wall of quirky graphic art:

Photo Via

I also bought this tote:

I desperately want a tote with Hungarian text (mmmm, text, text, text) but this saying was so perfect for me!  Plus the tote is handmade in Hungary with a neat design twist: the bow snaps off and is interchangeable (I also have yellow, orange and brown bows! 

I also loved these mint and gold bracelet by Juhos Janka, but they were a touch too pricey for me.  Perhaps a thrift store bangle and some spray might have to suffice.  I spy a DIY . . .  



Now it's back to work for me!!

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