{Grrr...I double photo-ed here, but lately, if I delete a photo once added, everything else becomes underlined, so I'm not going to bother. You'll just get to see it from both sides :)}
I'm finished with my little wall art project for now, and we even figured out how to make them hang-able and hung them too! I had to toss around the phrase, "we've been here for well over a year with nothing on the wall" a lot to get full cooperation with the above, but it was worth it. I like them! Thank you for all the great thoughts and suggestions. It's so fun to brainstorm creatively with others; you know I can't get anyone in my house to discuss a craft willingly with me! Happily, this little set seems to be appreciated by the whole family, which is not always the case with things I make (my daughter still "doesn't get" the coffee filter garland...). They all probably like these because they were involved in the gathering of all the parts. Using just a few shells from my childhood made the house piece extra special to me, so I suppose they feel the same. Speaking of the shell house, it ended up looking like this for now:
I did extend it a bit, but I couldn't bear to cover up the Paris postmark on the paper I bought there last year (see it below?). I also filled it in quite a bit with tiny shells.
The third piece is a tray made using a family photo taken by Tara Whitney at our favorite beach a few years ago. It sits on top of a piece of marbled paper cut out of an old ledger. The marbled paper reminds me of the ocean. I wired it on under a piece of glass. I tried mica instead of glass, but you couldn't really see the photo. My printer is l.a.m.e. so I may reprint and switch out the photo when I get new ink, or change to black and white, but for now it doesn't bother me enough to worry about. Here's the finished box on the same shutters I used to show you the others:
I hung a tiny little bottle off it and I'm either going to put some sand or water in it that we collect next time we are at the beach. First I thought sand, but then remembered Janice Lowry's cool water collection and liked that idea better. So, when you look at the other things hanging, do you read it as "us" or "U.S." ? It's funny, it took me awhile to see it as "us", but now I do.
And there you have it! I'm done for now...but I do wonder if eventually I should add two more...hmmm...
Wonderful! Just perfect. WOW and you got them hung and all. Yes the do read "us"
Posted by: Sharon @ norah'S | May 17, 2009 at 06:45 PM
Awesome! They all look great & the grouping of them even better... Peace 2 U, Marlene
Posted by: Marlene Haveron | May 17, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Very nice.
We've been in our home almost 11 years and have hardly anything on the walls!I think it's the only space that isn't covered(read:cluttered)-lol.
I think I read it as 'U.S',but suppose it looks like'us' too:)
~Andrea
Posted by: andrea | May 17, 2009 at 07:29 PM
Your wall arrangement turned out wonderfully!! It's so homey and comfy looking. Love it!
Posted by: debi @ life in my studio | May 17, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I think it turned out wonderful..
Katelen
Posted by: Katelen Tays | May 17, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Oh they're even better installed together. Love the colors in the shells you used. My collection is mostly white and browns so the corals and aquas are so striking!
Posted by: Becky | May 17, 2009 at 08:59 PM
Hi Pam;
It looks perfect with 3 together, makes a lovely personal statement....Thaks you for sharing.
xoxo
Dagmar
Posted by: Dagmar Leuenberger-Swift | May 17, 2009 at 09:35 PM
we're a military family so I definitely see U.S. but I love how you've used it. It's what you and your family see that matters anyway. and WOW to Janice's water collection. I've been collecting sand from around the world. Unfortunately I don't get to see much, my husband brings most of it home to me.
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 18, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Oh wow I love it, I want to make something like that too!! Great idea. And I read us but I'm not from de U.S.
Posted by: Astrid | May 18, 2009 at 01:05 AM
I love how it looks.
Posted by: Sandy | May 18, 2009 at 01:06 AM
It looks wonderful! Makes me want to go a fill up some boxes myself. I also love the lamp behind the couch.
Posted by: Jenzart | May 18, 2009 at 03:00 AM
Beautiful!!!
Posted by: Pam | May 18, 2009 at 05:31 AM
It all looks amazing put together!!
Posted by: Michelle McCord | May 18, 2009 at 05:48 AM
I love it! It is so personal and yet so artistic! Wonderful! karen...
Posted by: karen | May 18, 2009 at 06:17 AM
I love them...I could see you expanding it...but just these three are perfect, too. I read it as "us" immediately.
Posted by: Linda Richter | May 18, 2009 at 06:59 AM
clap, clap ,clap!
Smiles, Andra
Posted by: andra | May 18, 2009 at 07:45 AM
your space looks so calming! and your wall art turned out perfect! unlike you I have been in the same space for many years and it just may be time for me change my art around and possibly make some! thanks for the inspiration.
(I will be heading down to stampington this week... maybe you can scoop up Amy and we can grab some lunch?)
Posted by: ruth rae | May 18, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Gorgeous! I am inspired to create my own "family" art! very pretty!
Come by and check out my newest giveaway! I'd love for you to enter!
-Kelly
Posted by: Kelly Jones | May 18, 2009 at 02:29 PM
All of your pieces are beautiful! The arrangement looks great. I understand about not hanging anything on the wall. . .it takes me so long to hang pictures, but that is what makes it home!
Posted by: Holly | May 18, 2009 at 07:24 PM
SO beautiful, Pam. Just perfect!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | May 19, 2009 at 03:55 AM
It looks wonderful! I saw U.S. at first glance too.
Posted by: gabrielle | May 19, 2009 at 05:42 AM
I am glad to see both views! This is a smile. Thanks. Blessings.
Posted by: amy faldet | May 19, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Isn't it lovely that you can put your own artwork on the wall and make it feel even more like home?!
Posted by: pamelajane | May 19, 2009 at 08:39 PM
What a neat idea! I have so many shells my mother-in-law gave me. I've been struggling with what to do. That gives me some ideas. Love the rocks too. My husband got a kick out of that as we both love to pick up rocks.
Posted by: Vickie | May 19, 2009 at 08:52 PM
It turned out amazing and it is awesome that the whole family likes it. I am a tad jealous that you had your family photos taken by Tara. She is incredible and I am constantly blown away by her talent.
Posted by: Jeanne | May 19, 2009 at 10:53 PM
if you could just blink and appear here in atlanta, i promise i'd only keep you for a day.
you could whip me up some coffee filter garland, make some glittery somethingness, and the shell house would make my life complete
just saying..
Posted by: paige | May 20, 2009 at 06:29 AM
Pam.............Thank you SOOO MUCH for the inspiration!!!!!! I really needed it:)
Posted by: Linda Harre | May 20, 2009 at 10:07 AM
I think it is absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: Karen B | May 20, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Beautiful, Pam! You have creative restraint, just waiting to have the right piece to go on the right wall. I put things up on the walls before I put anything away... can you tell I am not an organized person? I still think of you and loved the journal class I took with you at Art Fest in '07. All the best to you!
p.s. my husband and I don't ever leave the beach without a heartshaped rock. Cool, love them!
Posted by: Sheila at Halo Hill | May 20, 2009 at 06:51 PM