Painted Metal Tray With Fruits and Flowers

The Find 

Not all freestyle finds require sanding, painting, or a significant overhaul. Some freestyle finds just require a proper cleaning before being put back into services, such was the case with the painted metal tray found earlier this year.  I took it because - in the dim light of an evening walk - the greenish color looked like it might blend well with the newly refinished kitchen table.  After a proper cleaning I was able to lay the painted metal tray on the table the compare, both items have aged grayish tones although the tray is greener.  

Metal tray painted with fruits and greenery

I decided to keep the tray for now since it covers up the seam in the middle of the kitchen table nicely, and provides a place to put produce.

Conclusion

Here is the current incarnation of the tray, serving it's painted purpose of holding fruit on the kitchen table; a perfect fresh-and-fruity centerpiece for every meal.

Metal tray and fruit centerpiece.

Happy Freestyling and Restyling!

Framed: Travails of the Quails

The Find

It's always lawn and yard-care season somewhere. Sometimes amongst the tree trimmings and grass clippings you come across a charming framed picture of bobwhite quails.

Framed watercolor out for trash pickup

Yes, it happens. Thank you universe.
I happily scooped up this lovely watercolor and carried it to the freestyle workshop for closer inspection.  Now, it seems to me that the main reason people discard otherwise undamaged and well-framed pieces is that the glass (a.k.a. "glazing" in framing lingo) has broken - either a lot or a little.  I think this is a shame, because custom replacement glazing - in the form of lightweight acrylic - can be purchased from a variety of online vendors.  I've been using American Frame for years and they even offer UV-resistant acrylic options that are both lightweight and protective in custom-cut sizes. (Not a sponsored post!!). The important thing to know is that if you lose your glass you don't have to lose your art.  Ok, back to the bobwhite quails.

The Makeover

After getting the piece home I examined the edges and I'm glad I did, there was a nice little piece of broken glass still stuck in the edge of the frame.

Broken glass stuck in frame

I cleaned off the front and back with a vaccuum, and wiped off the entire outer frame with a gentle cleaner.

Back of the found frame

I decided to take the piece apart with an initial though of re-using the frame with another poster inside.  The layers were held to the frame with points, indicating that this was probably hand-framed, not mass-produced in a factory.  Framer's points tend to be found in custom-framed pieces, based on what I've found to date.  Staples are what you see in more mass-produced pieces, usually lightweight presswood frames.

Detail of framer's points

I considered reusing the frame for this poster of trees, sort of a cousin to the mineral poster I framed with an earlier found frame.

Tree poster inside frame

While working on this piece a strange thing happened - the more I looked at the original bobwhite quail watercolor, the more I liked it.  Peaceful imagery, soft blues and greens, really it just grew on me.  The original gold-tone frame however, all scratched up, didn't. Paint to the rescue. Gold paint of course.

Conclusion

The gold paint that I used on this piece has much more warmth, maybe from orange tones, than the original gold-tone metal frame. I think this makes the entire piece *pop* a bit more, but I'm biased.

Repainted frame with original watercolor

Artist signature: Ray Garner

I don't know anything about the named signed on this piece, Ray Garner. At any rate, nice work Ray!

Happy freestyling and art appreciating!

Garden of freestyle delights - metal reflector

The Find

I like walking on nights other than trash night, but it is hard not to get excited about the prospect of finding new and interesting free things on trash night every week. For example, behold this random roll of thin metal. Whaaa? 

Roll of metal amongst other trash

What is this for? I have no idea what this roll of metal was originally used for, but I decided to combine it with some scrap wood and turn it into a light reflector for the garden.

The Making

The plan with this random roll of metal was to attach it to some scrap wood using a staple-gun, the same kind used in crafting or light-duty upholstering.  I unrolled the metal and held it down with a mix of clamps (only 0.99 at the hardware superstore), measured the width, and then cut with a pair of household scissors.  This probably dulled the scissors, but they are tools meant to be used.  I attached the bottom piece with staples, then repeated the process for the top piece - allowing for a slight overlap by the top metal piece, like shingles.

In progress: attaching the metal to the wood

Conclusion

I had enough of the thin metal to cover the entire piece of wood along with some leftover (perhaps for some future garden art?).  Here is the final piece "installed" in the garden (by leaning it against the railing and adding a cord around it so the wind won't blow it over) and hopefully reflecting light around a little bit more.

Metal light reflector in garden behind ghost pepper plants

Happy freestyling and freestyle-inspired making, crafting, and constructing!