Fabric Wall Art

I was at the fabric store and found a couple of really cool looking fabrics. However, I didn't know what I would do with them but I bought them anyway. One day, I just decided that I could stretch them over a frame and hang them on the wall. My sister took me to Home Depot and bought some 1"x2"x8' pieces of wood. Then she cut them into pieces and made some 16"x16" frames for me.
Here's my sister slaving away while I was inside the house simmering a bad mood.

Frame completed!

We cut out the fabrics into squares, stretched and stapled them onto the frames.

The corners were folded and tucked in neatly.

Finished one frame!

Finished with the other frame, too!

Of course, Calvin also helped us out.

These were hanging on the hallway entrance in my apartment. These were taken and hung up two years ago when I first moved in. I think it's time for a change.

I hung these new fabric frames in place of the old strawberries/blueberries photos. I must say, I really like them. Thank you, Baotran for making these with me!

Abstract ocean painting

I found this photo on Pinterest from aimee-weaver and thought, "hey, we could do this for my parents for Christmas."



My sister has been looking for a painting of an open space for them with no luck. We haven't found anything worth blowing $50-100 over. I've calculated that if we do this ourselves, we could save a lot of money AND get what we want.

The trip to Home Depot got us a large 1/4" x 4' x 8' board. We got them to cut it for us into three pieces, one of those were a 4' x 2.5'. We also got simple wall paint: self-priming pure white, a deep blue and an aqua. I also got brushes from the dollar tree: 2 for $1 :D

Let's start.

Here's our board. We like the cracks, but if you don't, invest in better boards. We opted for the cheapest piece because we really like the texture and cracks. Plus, we wanted to save money :)



Take your board and sand it down. It'll help hold the paint and reduce splinters. We like the cracks, but if you don't, invest in better boards.



Once done, flip it around to the back and install a french cleat hanger. We also stuck cabinet cabinet cork pads on the hanger before installing the screws because they were a bit longer than the thickness of the board—we didn't want the screws to go through the board.



If you're weak like me, use a drill to pre-drill a hole before installing the screw. If you're strong like my sister, you can use your bare strength.



Ok flip it over. Start painting the self-priming pure white all over the whole board. This will act as a base.



Wait until your white paint is half way dry. Mix a small amount of white and blue paint to create light blue. Paint the light blue at the top.





Add blue.



Add aqua. Blend between blue and aqua.



Blend aqua down to the white at the bottom. Done! Hang!



Sorry for the bad photos! :(

Summer Fun

My dad's birthday and this year's Mother's Day happened to be right next to each other, so I decided to combine the two events into one fun event. Why? Because I'm hella lazy.

In the last post, I made the mason jar lanterns especially for this event. I decided that we'd have a nice little summer "picnic" in our backyard. To make it a bit more festive than just sitting around, I made these flags by taping triangle paper sheets to a piece of twine.

Valentine's Sweets

I know that Valentine's was 1.5 weeks ago, but for Valentine's Day this year, I got something special in the mail.


From the sister! In case you couldn't tell, the heart is actually a map of downtown San Francisco! Isn't she awesome?



LeTran! That is me! She even tied it with a piece of pretty twine.



Polka dots and stars! Such perfect folding, too. The paper is this really nice and smooth heavyweight paper. Don't you think it looks kinda like a tie?



Let's see what's inside...



My oh my!



"Dear LeTran"



"7 seas
203 countries
7 continents
8 planets
80 billion galaxies
1 universe
infinite stars..."



"and I had the privilege to meet you."

"Happy Valentine's Day!
You're just plain awesome"



"Love, Baotran"



Meow!



Well, kiddo.



I think about how special it is that I get to be your sister everyday.



...and that I get to be your friend always...



...and that I get to laugh with you...



...and clap with you...



...share a flowery umbrella with you... (we still have this umbrella, by the way)



...and have horrible permed hair together...(note to self, never get hair permed ever!)



...because at the end of the day, we'll always be sisters and best friends forever and always!

P.S.: Baotran said that she stole this idea from someone, but I care not! I only care that I got a really cool thing in the mail and that she spent time making it for me!

A Day in the Life of a Knight

Princess: O Brave Knight! Save me! Save me! The Evil Hooded Death and the Deceptively Cute Evil Baby Bot got me imprisoned!




Knight: O Beautiful Princess! I shall save you from the clutch of evil! Let the Evil Hooded Death and the Deceptively Cute Evil Baby Bot throw their weapons at me! Nothing will stand between me and your freedom!

...And so the brave knight climbed mountains...



...trekked through forests and plains...



He even had to balance across a swinging rope bridge...



...and braced himself for he almost fell into the deep abyss!



Through his journey, he saw many a-beautiful and exotic flowers; but none can compare to the beauty that the princess possessed.



He dreamed that when he saved the princess from the evil clutches of Hooded Death and Baby Bot, he would bring her to these breathtaking flower fields.



Finally, he arrived at the evil lair! He climbed atop the tall trees to stakeout the area.



But alas, the Evil Hooded Death and Deceptively Cute Baby Bot had close circuit television and they spotted him. They decided to send out the fearsome giant panther with the sharpest claws!




The knight fought a brave battle against the panther and won! But, oh no, the Deceptively Cute Evil Baby Bot sent out his favorite pet, the white tiger!




The brave knight fought another fierce battle and emerged triumphant! But the evil team was not to be defeated so easily. They threw at him the poisonous leaves of a certain succulent plant.



Our brave knight was attacked by a bad case of the itch and temporarily passed out. When he woke up, he found himself in a large cage...



Looking around, he found that his opponent is a massive dragon!



It was a battle to the death against this dragon with the thickest hide and sharp-as-razors claws!



After hours of sweat, blood, pain, and wit, our knight emerged from battle a victor!



He rushed to the evil lair and slain the Evil Hooded Death and the Deceptively Cute Evil Baby Bot.

Princess: O Brave Knight, how shall I ever thank you for saving me from a life of imprisonment? Where is your noble steed? You must sweep me off my feet and carry me off into the sunset!




Brave Knight: O Beautiful Princess, I am tired and still suffer from the horrible itch, please let me rest for a bit.



So the brave knight laid down to rest for a long time. Whist he was starring at the clouds, he thought about what he just did and his future.



Finally, he stood up, faced the princess and said:

- O Beautiful Princess, on my way to save you, the thing that kept me going was how wonderful it must be to save you and live happily ever after with you. But I have given a lot of thoughts, happily-ever-after seems rather boring. I will no longer be fighting fury panthers, vicious white tigers, and fierce dragons. I will have to slave at a 9-5 job so you can buy shoes and purses and cosmetic surgeries. I have decided that I will quit knighthood and become...an ASSASSIN NINJA!



Good bye, I will hail you a cab as my last gentlemanly action!


Special thanks to Baotran for taking some of the photos and my parents for owning such an awesome yard with so many areas for the knight to go on his adventures. Also, a huge thank you to precious Lily and Calvin for playing the fury panther and white tiger!