photo gallery wall

My house is always a work-in-progress. I sometimes think we're the slowest people in the world for getting anything done. We've had some of Tim's black and white photography prints that we wanted to get matted and framed for years. I thought his room/the guest room would be the perfect place for them.

Since custom matting and framing is so expensive, I was looking for a cheaper alternative. I wasn't crazy about the frames at the typical places, plus they were more than I wanted to pay - about $25 each. Enter IKEA and their Ribba frames - $6.99 each. Now that was doable! (Later edit to add since I was asked: these IKEA Ribba frames also include the matting! The frame size is 12x16. Click HERE for the link.)

I hung the photos on the expanse of wall beside the bed. Fills up the empty space perfectly. Still don't have a headboard for this bed. (Nor do we have one for the master bedroom yet.) I know what I'm looking for, but haven't found just the "right" pieces. Or else, I've seen something I liked but wasn't willing to pay the asking price. Anyhoo, the photo on the lower right ~ the one with the birds flying over the trees ~ is actually my photo. Though Tim Photoshopped it for me.

I think this room is starting to look pretty good...

Just in time for Tim to move back in come August!

Linking up with Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday.

the dreaded day ~ and other stuff on a monday

 Last Thursday - September 25th - was the five year anniversary of Phil's passing.

(That's Phil in the green and white striped shirt, between me and Brian.) This was

the last family photo taken of the four of us in July 2009. We were celebrating Phil's

21st birthday at one of his favorite restaurants - Maggianos. Anniversary dates are

never easy. I don't think it matters how many years it's been been. Brian and I drove

out to Tim's place after he got out of school and we went to the cemetery together, then

out to dinner. I'm thankful that Tim isn't going to school far away where we couldn't

just hop in the car and be at his place in 1-1/2 hours.

On to other news...I finally saved up enough money to buy a nice lens for the Canon Rebel

xsi camera that Tim gave me a couple of years ago. (He was given a much nicer camera

for shooting a wedding.) I got a great deal on this lens from a seller on eBay. This lens itself

retails for almost $500! I was able to get this lens for a little more than half the retail price.

And it's in perfect condition. Now for the even harder part: learning how to use this camera

and lens! I have never used a DSLR camera before - just a point-and-shoot. Just looking

at all the buttons and knobs and stuff on both the camera and lens have me overwhelmed.

I know there's tutorials online, so that's where I'll start. Tim told me to learn how to shoot in

manual, not automatic.

 

 Speaking of photographs, there's nine of Tim's photos that I want to mat and frame

and hang on a wall in his old room/the guest room. I laid them out on my bed today

and I think this is how I want to display them on the wall. Now I need to make a trip

to Hobby Lobby or Michaels and check out my framing options. I'll wait to purchase

all of the frames until one of the places has a 40% off sale.

The weather here in northern IL continues to be just about perfect every day: warm

temps, tons of sunshine during the day, and cool nights. My desk faces a west window

so that the late afternoon sun comes streaming in - which the cats love. I caught Miss

Clemmie rolling around in delight yesterday. 

Sir Zippo prefers to just nap. Smart boy.

 One last thing ~ did I tell you that I'm back in my regular yoga class now that my

shoulder is feeling much better? After almost a year in a gentle class, it feels so

good to be back in my regular class where I feel a bit challenged. Namaste!