My Love Of Tedious Artistic Projects — A Look Back Over 20 Years
I have always loved tedious and time-consuming artistic projects. I don’t know what it is about them. I not only love the finished result (most of the time), but I also love the process. But the key is that the project has to be artistic in some way. I don’t like tedious building projects, or tedious home improvement projects, which is why I’d rather do just about anything other than drywall. Drywall mudding and sanding is tedious, but there’s no real reward at the end other than boring walls. But give me a tedious artistic project, and I’ll dive right in.
I wish I could find pictures of the first house Matt and I had built soon after we got married. It was in that house that I really found my love for this type of project. In our bedroom, I painted the walls a deep, beautiful red. At least I remember the color being beautiful in my mind. I wonder if I’d actually think that if I saw it today. 😀
But anyway, they weren’t solid red. I painted a harlequin pattern on them. The walls were covered in diamonds that were about six inches high. All of the diamonds that made up that harlequin pattern were the same color, but I alternated flat and glossy finishes. And then after they were all painted, I went back and added shiny silver thumbtacks at each point where the diamonds met — top, bottom, and both sides. Those walls were a work of art. They looked something like this, but just imagine that the two different colors were actually the same color with very different sheens. The red wasn’t actually this dark, and the dots between them were a shiny silver.
Those walls took a ridiculously long time to finished, but I was in my element. I have to giggle when I look back at that time in our lives. Those walls (and that house in general) is where Matt realized exactly what he had gotten himself into when he married me. 😀 Before that, we lived in an apartment, so I didn’t really have the opportunity to let loose with my creativity. But three months after we got married, we started building our house, and I let loose with my creativity. I can’t imagine what he must have been thinking so soon after we got married, but he was so sweet and let me do whatever I wanted to do with that house. And he’s been that way with me for 23 years now.
The first tedious artistic project that I documented on my blog, way back in 2009 as this table that I decoupaged with strips of colorful paper. I did this for our condo, where we lived before we bought our current house. It didn’t stay like this very long, but it was a fun project.
That project was pretty easy compared to the argyle walls that I painted in our hallway/laundry area. This was a pretty small area, but these walls took quite some time. You can see how I did these walls here. And you can see the before and after of this area here.
This herringbone tray was a smaller project, but it still fits the theme. And if you’ve been around a while, you can see that this was the beginning of (and inspiration for) much bigger projects that were to come. I made this using small strips of iron-on edge banding, so each of those pieces had to be ironed on individually. You can see that project here.
And then came the big one — the chrysanthemum mirror made out of plastic spoons. I owe a lot to this project. This is the project that put my blog on the map. It went viral like no other project I’ve ever done. This thing took on a life of its own, and inspired thousands of spoon-related DIY projects for the next year, at least. In fact, one manufacturer even stole my idea and mass-produced these out of resin, right down to the exact number of petals, the ombre paint effect, and all. They just made it a cream color instead of teal. And of course, I got nothing out of that. Back in those days, manufacturers were consistently stealing ideas from DIY bloggers for mass production.
My next tedious project was kind of a variation on that theme, but I used a much smaller material than plastic spoons. For this one, I used pistachio shells to make a hanging “succulent garden” for the front door of our condo.
This is a project I’d actually like to recreate. I made this hanging flower backet out of slices of 2×4 lumber about 12 years ago. Unfortunately, I didn’t seal it at all, so the raw wood out in the elements only lasted about two years. But it was inspired by my neighbors’ flower basket that is made this way. Theirs is painted, and theirs is still hanging on their front porch today.
Here’s a quick look at a few more…
- Herringbone lamps made of watercolor paper
- Faux “capiz shell” pendant light made from window film
- Hand drawn bird and tree mural in the entryway
- Colorful “pinwheel” art made from wood tasting spoons
- Stenciled walls outlined in black Sharpie marker in the music room
- Hand tinted wall tiles using alcohol inks and resin for the pantry
- Pixel art made from wood button plugs
- Hand drawn wall mural in the guest bedroom
- Ombre square spiral wall design in the studio bathroom
- Striped painted walls in our home gym
- Paint swatch cabinets in my studio
- Pendant light made from wood tasting spoons for my studio
- Painted wood floor in my studio
- Flower chandelier made from air dry clay for my closet
As I was scrolling back through my DIY projects gallery and reminiscing about these older projects, I was actually surprised at how many of these tedious artistic projects I have done throughout the years. I love this type of project, whether it’s an art project, part of a piece of furniture, or a wall design. And I’m sure I’ll love this current project — the new design for the studio bathroom walls — as soon as I’m finished with that as well. I’m enjoying the process, and the finished project is the icing on the cake.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I found you with the spoons. Crazy how long it has been.
What a fun trip down memory Lane! All fun and beautiful projects – love getting to see them again 😁
The Herringbone walls was when I found your blog! Still my favorite DIY! You have been a must read ever since!
Sheila F.
You have been an great inspiration for me. I found you because everything I researched a project I was doing you always popped up! Finally, I realized you had a blog and you had so many interesting projects I actually read your whole archive! Just want you to know how appreciated and inspiring you are.
Whenever I see the pantry tiles, I fall in love with your blog all over again 💕
ME TOO!
I love that hanging flower basket! I haven’t seen that project on your blog before! The capiz shell light is another of my favorites. I’m like you and I love a tedious art project. I should do more of these around my house!
OH, I love seeing these…I missed all the first ones, but have loved watching the others while you were working on them. Of all, which did you think started to be less fun, and a bit frustrating of all of them? I’ll guess the light above your desk? I still love your pantry…hope it’s staying there somehow? And I hope you still have the Succulent garden…I love that!
I’ve always loved the wooden spoon art above your fireplace and the pixel flowers. Many others also but those two are my top.
I remember most of these projects. I found your blog late condo life. I enjoyed them all but my favorites are the herringbone lamp, bird mural (I still wish there was a place in your home for another one of these), stenciled wall in the music room, painted wall in the old master bedroom and those gorgeous hand painted ink/epoxy tiles in the pantry. That’s a lot of favorites … LOL. I’m glad you are enjoying painting the guest room wall and I am looking forward to seeing it completed.
I would have loved to see the bird mural or the master bedroom mural make a reappearance in the studio bathroom. Loved those designs! Not sure how it would work with the studio wallpaper though.
Funny because I have often thought that you love to do projects that I didn’t so much consider tedious, but as painstaking and time consuming. My favorites have been the pixel art and the pantry tiles but I really like that hanging basket. If you’re going to make a new one, consider either using cedar and linng it and using straws to direct water flow through the openings, or spend a bit more and use poly wood to build it. I have a poly wood flower box in aqua that looks the same today as it did when I bought it 7 years ago, no fading or rotting.
Oh! What a great post! So many projects that I just love. I’m going to go back and maybe try the herringbone lamp now that I’m retired and have more time. But my favorite of all time are the pantry tiles! When the pantry goes, please offer some for sale. If it does go, I mean. I can’t remember the latest kitchen plan, but your pantry made me smile! Maybe another post on framed art, like the colorful bible verses?
Most of us just sit in front of You Tube to watch ASMR – you actually do it! Thanks for today’s look back at beautiful things. Off to research the lamps…
I remember most of the projects you posted. I still think your condo was so well done. You just keep getting better and better at what you do. Thank you for always sharing your skills and imagination with us.
You are so very talented.
I have followed you for a very long time (conditioner days). I just LOVE what you accomplish. I love colour. I wish you had pictures of your red wall in that house. My absolute favorite colour is RED. You wouldn’t happen to remember the brand, exact colour name would you? I would love to see it in person, and maybe it could / would jump start me to try your idea somewhere in my home.
Keep BEING YOU !!!
Hugs to you and Matt