Reader Project: Black + White Painting

I've said before that I love blogging because I get to chat DIY projects and home stuff with people who are equally jazzed about these themes.  But sometimes blogging feels one sided.  I show you this and that and sometimes we connect through comments (which always makes my day), but I know from my stats there are oodles of you who drop by the townhouse, and quietly check out what's new.  Hi there!  I want you to know that I'm so happy you stop by.

I hope you don't mind, but I do think it's fun when Dans le Townhouse becomes slightly less about me and my blah blah blah, and more about you!  That's why I share other DIYs from time to time, and why I grin ear to ear when someone shoots me an email to say they tried a project of mine and "look how awesome it turned out".  After much deserved kudos, I practically pounce on the DIYer in question and anxiously ask, "Can I share this on the blog, PUH-leeze?????"  If this were done in person, I would likely frighten them away with my over-zealousness (think crazy eyes and maybe some drooling).  Happily, the internet protects you from my lack of social graces.  But enough about me.

Today's an awesome "less-about-me, more-about-you" kinda day.  Monday I promised to share a reader's take on the black and white painting I shamelessly copied, and here's Jae's version!  You can catch more on her blog, Design OCD. 

Isn't it cool?  I love her styling - the painting above that striped bench looks super fresh and modern.  To jog your memory, here's "my" version but, truthfully . . .

P.S. We made a frame for it since . . . see here!

. . . I copied this one.  Not super well, mind you, but it's important to clarify the idea isn't mine.

Harper's Bazaar

Remember Erin's cool spin on this painting?  It turned out so pretty and so "her".  When Beth took a stab at it, her creativity took off and she created something totally unique.  DIY art makes me happy.  So, what have you been up to (she says with crazy eyes).

Reader Project: An Expedit Hack Twist

Sometimes I feel really guilty about the oodles of time I devote to blogging.  A nagging voice, in the darkest corner of my mind, tells me I should do something more "important" or "meaningful" with that time.  I'm not sure what I think more important or meaningful things would look like, but I think they might have to do with being a better researcher, getting published more, and contributing more original research.  I often feel pretty deficient as an academic and I sometimes blame my blogging time for this.  Compounding these anxieties, sometimes I start to think maybe it's really selfish that I blog.  Some comments replying to this Apartment Therapy post suggested bloggers blog as a way of saying, "Hey, look how awesome I am.  Validate me!"  I've always thought I blog because I don't have DIY-savvy folks in my non-blog world, but am I really just an approval-junkie, devoting hours of my time in exchange for virtual pats on the back?  But, really, isn't either reason for blogging pretty self-serving?

Sometimes I need a blog friend to pull me out of this negative tail spin.  When Jenna emailed me photos of her gorgeous version of my Artful Expedit Hack, I was reminded that in addition to making DIY friends and getting virtual pats on the back, I might also be helping to make someone's home a little lovelier.  I'm not just taking from these blogging relationships - I'm giving something back, too.  Even if I'm giving the tiniest thing back (like a tutorial so readers can make pretty little billy buttons) that's definitely not un-important. 

So huge thanks to Jenna, for emailing me recently about how she took my Expedit Hack idea and made it hers!  Here's the email that totally made my day:

Thank you for your IKEA Expedit hack!  It was exactly what I was looking for.  It looks so much better with the canvases on!  I used your tutorial for attaching the canvases to the Expedit.  I couldn't find matching hooks and eyes, so I went with the white hooks to match the Expedit and silver eyes.  I knew I didn't want to paint them, but couldn't decide what I wanted to do with them so I left them for a few weeks.  I ended up using burlap to cover the canvases and love them!  Masking tape was used to secure the burlap to the canvases so I can change it out if I decide later on I want something different. 

Thank you so much for all of your tutorials and writing your blog in general.  You are one of my favorite blogs!  Good luck in Hungary!

She started with a white Expedit.  I'm jealous.  I wish I'd gone for white.

And here is her Expedit with her burlap covered canvases.  Aren't they perfect?  I love the pattern she installed them in - so graphic and cool.  Her whole Expedit looks perfectly styled and un-cluttered.  I just love it!  She pinned it to Pinterest (along with her fabulous etched baking pans).

If you've tried a project of mine (even if it turned out totally different), I'd love to see and feature it on Dans le Townhouse.  Feel free to email me: dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com. 

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Reader Projects: Art Inspired by My DIY Art

I'm waiting for the paint to dry on some recent DIY projects, so I thought I would share a couple reader projects.  Erin, from 110+2, and Beth, from After the Dust Clears, were both inspired by my simple black & white DIY painting and made fabulous paintings of their own!

Erin created a gorgeous diptych in navy, orange and gold (click here to see more photos of her paintings):

Photo from 110+2

Aren't Erin's paintings lovely?  I especially like that she made a pair from different sized canvases.

Now, for inspiration a little less literal, Beth emailed me a link to her painting (click here to see) inspired by the same black & white abstract . . . but hers ended up completely different.  I love that, and I do the same thing:  I start with something I plan to copy but the creative juices flow and I end up with something not at all like what I planned!  I think her finished piece is pretty amazing: soothing colours and interesting composition.  What do you think?

Photo from After the Dust Clears

Thanks Beth and Erin for sending me your links and photos!  I love seeing how (or if) folks are inspired or motivated by my DIY projects and I especially love seeing a different spin.  If you've tried one of my DIY projects, send me an email (dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com), because I'd love to feature your version on Dans le Townhouse.

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Felted Billy Button Success Story

I love when folks try a tutorial of mine and then tell me (like here and here).  Especially when they tell me it worked!!  Surely you know Emily, from Go Haus Go?  She is one of my favorite bloggers and I wish we lived in the same city (even the same country would work) so we could be pals.  Is that weirdly creepy of me?  Oh, the adventures we'd have.  Like making felted wool billy buttons together.

She used my tutorial and check out her version:

Her billy buttons turned out perfectly, right?  And of course I'm loving her white walls + white bedding + colourful art. 

As a refresher, here are my billy buttons:

So many of you have left comments or emailed me, telling me you've tried an art project or craft tutorial of mine and I am dying of curiosity!  Even if you think it's a flop and refuse to let me blog about it, could I please see?  Pretty please? Please please please?!?  Remember, I don't have crafty friends outside of blogland.  Doesn't that make you feel sad for me?  Sad enough to show me your projects?  I promise your project is awesome and I guarantee it will warrant nothing short of gushing compliments.  Now show me . . . dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com

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DIY Felting Flops & Feats

Don't forget to enter my first-ever giveaway!  I'll draw a winner Sunday, so check back Monday.

I mentioned in my blogiversary post that I really, really enjoy connecting with readers and fellow bloggers.  What especially tickles me is when I get to see people put one of my DIY tutorials into action.  You remember Tamsyn's awesome DIY felted wool billy buttons?  Well, fellow Canadian Krista, of the blog Don't Forget to Breathe, also took a stab at making her own billy buttons and they turned out so well!  Here are some photos:

Check out my tutorial (and troubleshooting) posts if you want to make some of your own (and send me photos).  But take my advice with a grain of salt.  I'm still trying to make my own felted flower brooch and these are the floopy messes I've made instead.  I'll keep at it because in the DIY game you win some, you lose some . . .

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DIY Felted Wool Billy Button Success Story

After my DIY felted wool billy button project was featured on Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy, I had a flurry of questions.  In addition to the original, step-by-step post, I created a follow-up trouble shooting post, tried to answer questions in comments and answered every single email query I received. 

But I hadn't yet seen anyone try the project.  Yesterday I saw this Max & Me post and was so thrilled.  Tamsyn tried the billy button project and did a fantastic job!  Her billy buttons look amazing and are felted to perfection.

Here are my felted wool billy buttons:

And here are Tamsyn's:

Max & Me

Max & Me

Max & Me

Fabulous, right?

If you have given my felted wool billy button tutorial a whirl, please email me!! (dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com)  I'd love you see your finished product & would be thrilled to feature it here, on Dans le Lakehouse.

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