Gallery Wall

Finally this post is complete! I apologize for the length of time since my last post, but between technical issues and life changes I just couldn’t get ‘er done. Also because I didn’t want to take a lot of time picture editing the pictures have had very little editing.

My hallway was empty. My hallway is a dominate part of my apartment because my apartment is a San Francisco studio. One of these days I might do a tour, but for now think tiny! Something had to be done about the cream abyss, so I started collecting frames from thrift stores in black and silver. Back in October I finally felt that I had collected enough frames to start my gallery wall! Huzzah!!!

Like Young House Love I used newspaper to visualize the placement of the frames on the wall. Just cut newspaper to the size of your frames and play around with the placement on the wall until you are happy. I hung the frames with adhesive strips instead of nails, so no measuring required. I didn’t use a level so some of the frames are a little crooked, but oddly I don’t mind. I thought I would, but I really don’t. I just love the fact that there is something interesting in the hallway now!

Fast forward to January and I finally get around to adding art to the frames. I decided to display some of my memories from my travels on the wall. My inspiration came from a small collection of coins from Costa Rica. Instead of keeping them hidden away I wanted to show them off. A $3, or so, mat and some glue came to the rescue. I used masking tape to mimic the frame so it did not sit on the coins when I put the mat in. The masking tape did not come off as nicely as I would have liked but you really can’t see the ripped bits so it’s okay.

To accompany my special coin mat I had John Photoshop a picture of a toucan I found online onto a fun background I found via Pinterest. The lovely photo of the toucan is from agu_xauen on a site called  Panoramio. I would have used a picture I took except I am a horrible photographer and there was too much going on it the background of my toucan photos. agu_xauen is much better at it, by FAR.  The background is a painting by Melanie Mikecz, mm-illustration.com. I love the color and texture it lends. Thank you both for agreeing to let me show this project with my readers! Much love and Pura Vida!

Then there is the framed sheet music cover my Dad gave me for my birthday.

I will let the pictures do the rest of the explaining.

Pretty plant from Costa Rica.

Keep sakes from Maui, HI.

Kauai, HI

I think I took this picture from the second story of the internet cafe in Costa Rica, but I can’t remember. It was either that or the language school. Great reminder of a city and a country I fell in love with.

Kauai, HI again. This was one of my favorite trees and the tree was right by the beach I had my first surf lesson on!

For those who are interested here are a few tips and trails for mats, pictures, and the like.

Don’t be afraid of adding color with a mat to your gallery wall. Easy way to add more color, interest, texture, and easy to change if you do not like it.

When adding a fabric mat be aware of the type of fabric before trying to iron. Case in point (fabric = pocket ripped off a laundry bag): The orange synthetic fabric melted onto the iron. Opps!

Cutting mats takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it’s not too bad. Using a ruler and a square is the only way I can hope to cut a straight line. No, that is not my hand. My fingers are not that pretty. 🙂 The tiny working space doesn’t help though. Yes, the coffee table is my project area.

Without further ado, here is the gallery wall as it looks now. I’m a happy girl!