Prettifying

If ever there was an object that was screaming out to be Prettified, this is it. This grey rectangle of metal is possibly the dullest looking thing I have ever purchased in my life. Do you know what it is? It's rather oddly called "Spontan" and is in fact a Very Useful Object. A magnetic notice board no less.

I knew as soon as I bought this useful bit of metal that I would not in any way shape or form be able to leave it alone. It would most certainly have to be tarted up, that was for sure. This morning, when I was putting the finishing touches to it, the word prettify came into my mind. What a smashing word that is!!! So much cuter than the word upcycle. I looked it up in the online dictionary just to check if it did actually exist (many of the words I use do not exist), and yes, it is indeed a real, bonafide word.......

pret·ti·fy  (prt-f) tr.v. pret·ti·fied, pret·ti·fy·ing, pret·ti·fies

To make pretty or prettier, especially in a superficial or insubstantial way.

HA!!!!!!!! That made me laugh out loud! Insubstantial indeed! Well. I am about to show you how I took the drab grey metal and did some superficial and insubstantial things to it.

Mod Podge . I bought this bottle ages ago after seeing it very successfully used in Blogland to cover hard ugly things with pretty fabric. I had thought (and do still think) that Connievan would benefit enormously from some fabric+modpodge treatment, but haven't yet got round to it. So this was a first time experiment for me, and I am happy to tell you it was a resounding success. Easy to use, and with fantastic end results, this stuff is crazy-marvelous! If you're going to try anything like this, I would also highly recommend you purchase a foam brush. I used a 2 inch one and it was just right.

You need to work quite quickly when you first spread the Modpodge onto the object, and this foam thing did the job beautifully.

So easy, did i say that already? First cut your fabric to size (I used a thin floral poly/cotton), leaving about an inch all around which you will trim off afterwards. Spread your hard object all over with a generous but even spread of MP. Lay your fabric on top and smooth it down firmly with your hands, eliminating any creases and air bubbles. It's not as hard as you imagine it to be. I recently covered Little Man's school book with that clear sticky plastic stuff and that was a holy nightmare, so this was childsplay by comparison.

I took some care over the corners and made some impressively neat tucks, adding quite a bit more MP to make sure it was all sticking down firmly with no flappy bits. Once it was all stuck down, I then coated the whole of the fabric with a thin layer of MP to give it a matte glaze finish.

Allow it to dry completely before trimming neatly around the edges with a sharp craft knife or rotary cutter. And that's pretty much it....I'll show you the end result in a bit, I need to talk about magnets now.

I bought this set of 24 magnets from Amazon cos I liked the bright jolly colours. But when they arrived, I had a little light bulb moment and decided that they would also benefit from a little bit of insubstantial prettifying. Buttons, I thought. They need buttoning.

There is no shortage of colourful buttons in the Attic (thank goodness), so I was able to set to work straight away.

I put a little bit of stitching in the centre of each button, totally unnecessary of course, but I like the extra little bit of detail. Then I went down into the cellar, unearthed my ancient hot glue gun, plugged it in and set to work blobbing and sticking.

I love them! They are fun and colourful and go really well with the fabric.

I'm going to use this as a sort of changing inspiration board at the studio, a place to keep pretty paper things. Do you like the lovely bird card? This is the work of textile and paper artist Nancy Nicholson, my latest crush. Her style is bright and jolly with a little bit of folksy fun thrown in. I really love what she does, especially the paper products, which she calls Interactive Stationery.

I treated myself to some of her Topiary Birds, and I love having them in the Attic.....

....they landed on the mantel and look very at home. You must go and have a snoop around Nancy's home....you will love it. It is amazing. Inspiring. Go look, and enjoy.

I'll be taking my newly prettified inspiration board down to the studio tomorrow. Uh-huh. Yesterday we finally finished the decorating, hooray!! It was such bliss to tidy all the messy mess away, sweep the gorgeous floor, bring in the first pieces of furniture and add some fresh flowers. There is still much to be done, but the hard graft is over. Let the Prettifying commence.

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ps I have (of course) been taking photographs of the studio over the past month as we've been working hard to get it ready. I'll be sharing the whole story with you here very soon. It's all so dreamy!

 

Comments

[Bombs away]

No, actually, you may take credit for your fun word and use it in your cute context however Prettify is not a word the verbs for pretty are "to make pretty" and "beautify" i opened my actual dictionary because the internet is full of garbage words in so called "dictionaries" just because someone submitted a made up word doesnt make it real if you like we can play:
handsomify,uglify,kindify, gentlefy,stinkify,loudify,cutify, lets just ad fy to every adjective and call it a real word shall we. No lets not....English already works...unless you want to go back to school and relearn english because your english is now outdated...or no wait, lets rather go ahead and ignorantify the world with nonesense words cause that is really the best use for the internet hey? Or perhaps we should show some responsibility towards the written word so we dont stupidify our children!!

[Leah]

Great makeover - I might try something similar, I need an inspiration board near my craft closet.

[idiosyncratic eye]

I love it! :)

[narf7]

Modpodge? I have heard about it out in the blogosphere...not even sure if it is even available here in Australia but it might be time to check out if it is! It looks like it has the potential to liberate the bolshie art of yarnbombing from a select few to just about anyone...imagine modpodging a mailbox with fabric? How about a street sign? a telephone booth?! I have a large bridge spanning the Tamar River (yeh, we have one of those here too ;) ) that I could mod podge!!! (might take a bit longer than the mailbox and I might need a bit more fabric but I am up for it!!!). That clear plastic sticky stuff is called "Contact" here and a more fitting word was never given to anything...as soon as it makes "contact" it sticks like super glue and won't let go :( They are the stuff that mothers who have been told that "I need my books all covered by tomorrow mum!"...and who are still up at 3am listening to the blackbirds singing with a cold cup of tea in front of them and all 600 books from each of their 3 kids (did I mention all 3 of them needed the books covered BY TOMORROW?!) and it IS tomorrow and you are only half way through because the bloo#@ "contact" has torn holes in all of the books and you are trying to use pins to stick holes in and have gotten all of the cereal out of its box to try to recreate a cover in some form... yeh...I have been there and done that and know that it is a parents rite of passage to cover books! It sorts out those of us who can, and those of us who stick a sad sticker on the front of the books in the vain hope that their children will get away with it! ;)

[Margriet Duursma -Spijkerman]

What a wonderful studio you've got. I envy you( just a little bit) hugs from Holland

[Lucille]

Have you see this? I thought of you!
http://cornflower.typepad.com/domestic_arts_blog/2013/03/the-circus-is-not-enough.html

[Karen]

I love this idea! We certainly need some prettified magnetic boards in our house . . .

[Liesbeth Houtman]

Dear Lucy, you do such pretty things with very simple things. I love your ideas. Keep up with the good work! You inspire me! Isn't it wonderful for you, to know, that you inspire so many people? That must give you a very good feeling about yourself! Are you happy with that? I wish you well, success with the Studio, where ever that me be..... In your own neighbourhood?
Love from the Netherlands!

[Bari Jo]

Everything you touch turns pretty! Can't wait to see the reveal of the studio!

[Joy Boughey]

I'm always inspired by your blog Lucy, such beautiful work and photography - and have to say the scenery shots make me quite homesick at times, me being a Scot and having now lived in Australia many, many years! I also have had strong connections with your exact neck of the woods in days gone by. Thank you for all of it and I wish you and Tracy many blessings in your new shared studio!

[Nadia]

I would say that board has been Lucyfied! Heehee! Now THAT word should be in the dictionary! The little button magnets made me squeal a bit, they're so lovely!

[Nicole]

That was a pretty good piece of upcycling! I couldn't work out what the grey thing was at first :)

I might need to investigate modge podge if nothing but for the name alone :p It sounds interesting. The problem is.... When I discovered super glue (like it was some new invention) I couldn't stop gluing stuff, so I'm a bit worried I might try modge podging my whole flat haha!

x

P.S I now know it's Mod Podge but I quite like my name for it :D

[Jo Roberts]

Been doing a bit of {gulp!}upcycling myself here:

http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/zip-brooch.html

[Dianne Vittone]

Lucy.....I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your blog. I've crocheted since I was vey young and love, love, love it! Thank you for all you post, it's all delish! Warmly, Dianne Vittone, OH,USA

[Lyn Z... Isle of Long, NY, USA]

SO excited about your soon to open studio!!! You sound so very over the moon happy!! I would be as well.....
When you mentioned those little birds in your last post I thought to share with you another amazing artists work.... Her name is Geninne....... I Am including a link to her blog....... http://blogdelanine.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-blue-agave.html She does LOTS of birds, butterflies and other images.... she carves her own stamps and is ever so talented and gives great tutorials as well....... (NOT a crocheter)
Also I recently saw that little VW Bug all Mod Podged and hope you noticed the bit someone wrote about using 'EXTERIOR" Mod Podge if you decide to resurface Connievan :) <3

[Liz Davey]

That is fab. I waited for ages for the first photo to download, before I realised that the grey rectangle was the photo! Love the new version

[Marjolein]

Hi from the Netherlands, love your blog, keep on posting. I am inspired by your knitting and crocheting!

[Sonia Petitpoint]

I really like your pretty notice board !

[jeanie]

You are awesome! If only I lived closer so I could visit you in "The Studio":) I can't wait to see pictures of the studio's journey.

[Jane Wolkowski]

The way you write your blog, for me, is like reading a bestseller novel. I totally devour each and every word and I also like all your pojects which I try to copy and I thank you for you taking the time to share.

[Denise Rotherham]

This is beautiful - I have something in mind for the Teen's bedroom to prettify school reminders! Have a lovely and colourful week.
Denise

[Julie Lealand]

HiLucy, I read your posts all the time, each & every single one of them but never comment. I just had to comment today & say that I absolutely LOVE what you have done with your noticeboard & magnets & cant WAIT to see your studio reveal. Thanks for sharing, hugs across the miles, Julie :-)

[Gemma]

Love the buttons for those people that don't have a glue gun you can use clear bathroom sealant instead you can get it in DIY stores, uni bond do one in a bottle that doesn't need a gun squeezy thing and it holds really well!

[Elle]

It's ADORABLE! The buttons are the perfect Lucy touch! But I have to wonder if I am the only person who sat and stared at the gray rectangle for a full 10 minutes waiting for a picture to load? LOL! I felt so silly when I realized that the gray rectangle WAS the picture! I need a vacation!

[Karen]

Prettified indeed! The stitches on your buttons are awesome - I always say that a button should never be nekkid!