Freestyle not taken: a chair preserved only in memory

In retrospect I should have taken this one, but at the time (early January) I was trying to minimize the amount of stuff that would have to soon be tetris-packed into a cargo van. Oh well, how was I to know that the chairs expected to furnish a future apartment would have molded and warped in someone's shed over the winter?  This is the type of retrospective realization that pushes me towards preemptive stockpiling.

My first thought upon seeing this seat-less chair was, 'a little 1980s...but it could be painted.'  It probably needed to be re-glued in parts, and obviously a seat would have to have been fabricated.

Chair on sidewalk - Broadway

The back reminds me of upside-down hockey sticks, but something like this might look nice in a dark color like navy.   The seat cover is trickier for me, solid? Curvy pattern? How to offset the pronounced lines of the chair back? Maybe mirror them on the seat cushion with a mod-inspired fabric.

 Even though I didn't take the seat-less chair I'm prepared with inspiration for the next possible freebie find.

via Knack Studios

Different chair style, but the dark frame with crisply graphic fabric fits the type of look I lean towards.

Happy Freestyling, or freestyle dreaming if that's all that is possible during those winter snowstorms.

NQF - Vintage ice bucket becomes a planter

[author's note: I thought I published this post earlier, but according to Blogger it was still a draft, so if you have seen it before, well, you know how it ends, if not, read on!]]

Say hello to the NQF.

Not Quite Free, a designation I'll use when there is something oh-so-worth-sharing that involved paying money somehow. Surprising perhaps, but it does happen.


I write this from deep within the throes of my succulent obsession.  Lately I find myself perusing the shelves of Central Square thrift stores with an intense eye for anything tarnished and ornately fashioned.  It can't just be silver, it has to be slightly aged.  It has to be ornamented, with some sort of scrolled, molded, or floral decorative motifs to have the right look I'm after to round out my vision for a shelf of succulents in silverplate planters.......

Behold the ice bucket!!

I thought the substantial depth would allow for a thick gravel layer at the bottom for adequate drainage of the plants.  Am I the first to post about re-using an ice bucket in this way? Probably not.  Did I know what I was doing when I decided to take out the old and crumbly lining/insulation that connected the ceramic insert to the silver? Most definitely no.  After my deconstruction I discovered that the white ceramic insert was just sitting on a rough wooden block to keep it from touching the metal.

I added planting materials (gravel, succulent/cactus potting soil) and my plants - a mix of purchases from a local florist and the Scandinavian superstore (who would have thought?).  Check out the results.

I should note that at first I thought this doohickey was a soup tureen.  It was Creative Roommate who said, "oh, it's an ice bucket, my Aunt ----- had one of those when I was growing up."  Nice.

Project costs
Ice bucket from the Goodwill: ~ $8.99
Plants (from 2 different stores):  ~ $15

While the planter and plants were not quite free, the inspiration certainly was.  Check out some the pictures that inspired me (below) or search for 'succulents and silver' to find your own favorites.

via Pinterest

via Garden Therapy featured on Shelterness

via Antiquechase
I'm impressed with the trophy cup on the left, it adds such nice height variation.

This won't be the last post describing succulents planted in silverplate containers, so stay tuned.
Happy not-quite-freestyling!

Love! Valour! Compassion! Freestyle!

I love the community that exists in Cambridge.  The intelligent and interesting people, the creativity on display in everything from customized bikes to unique lawn ornaments, the area practically hums with ideas.  I also appreciate that friends keep a lookout for free stuff, and call me when sightings happen.  Such was the case when “Lady K” (girlfriend of Technologist Roommate) had her boyfriend call me with notice of ‘a nice-looking frame on the sidewalk’ near our house.  So, shoes on, keys in hand, out I went to scavenge on a sunny afternoon [clearly this was a while ago!!].  I didn’t bring a camera, but I was impressed with Lady K’s ability to spot a nice frame amongst a pile of miscellaneous cabinets.  It was a framed poster for the 1997 movie Love! Valour! Compassion!

In all the excitement I apparently never took a photograph, but look at the picture above, then imagine it in a frame, there you go.

Found: black metal frame (minimal scratches), glass front, white poster-board backing

Size:  poster size, approx 24x36 inches

Now, as much fun as Jason Alexander was to watch on Seinfeld, I never saw the Love! Valour! Compassion! movie, so had no attachment to the poster. Sorry poster, off to the recycle bin for you.

Creative Roommate took charge of this project, and painted an imposing lion to adorn her wall.

It's just a yawn, really.

You might notice that there is no glass in the final version, if so you should be complemented on your keen eye. Why no glass? Well, let’s just say someone experimented with tension forces and unconventional dis-assembly techniques, learned a valuable lesson, and now knows the proper way to take apart a metal frame.  Fear not, no one was injured in the making of this freestyle post.

Remember, if you don't want it, maybe someone else does. It never hurts to notify.
Happy freestyling!