Artistic Interpretation

Making A House A Home - Or Trying Anyway

Inspired by my darling friend Jennie and motivated by a planned visit from lovelies Jeff and Allen, I have finally started the stair wall adornment process.

I have been wanting for two years to hang family, friends pictures and art along the stairs to my second floor to make my place feel homey. I have been talking about it, buying frames, keeping pictures sitting on the floor in the upstairs hallway to step around for about as long.

These Facebook posts from Jennie got me moving:

Jennie and friends wrote on Facebook how this stair project really made her new house feel like a home. I want that feeling. I want friends and family to feel welcome and comfortable here. B feels pretty comfy here - and home is coming together more and more - if super slowly.

A few months ago, I brought out smaller pictures and created a homey space in the living room.

Family, friends, a view from a Delaware trip, a sleeping 7-year-old Kyle

Jess came over to help with the stairwell yesterday. She asked: So have you mapped it out? Are we measuring? Making a plan?

I laughed hysterically. I'm sure Jennie had a plan? I'm not that prepared despite all the time I have had to think about this project. It's my art so I'll wing it and the final result will represent me appropriately. Judge away!

Neither Jess nor I had a lot of time, and I realized I need more frames and enlargements and reprints of some photos. I also need to find the pictures of me at 2 - fat and bald - that my Grandma Ken Ken had printed for me many years ago. (This is where actual planning is good?)

Here is what Jess and I accomplished in an hour:

Yes, that's only seven pieces - I know!

I think it's a good start. Now let's see if I can finish this project this week. I don't want to have to step around those frames on the stairs for weeks. Art takes time - no? Ha ha.

Wish me luck. Send frames.