Over the weekend we had a neighborhood yard sale.  This happens 2x a year and I’ve gone to all of them since we moved in.  I’ve managed to score some pretty cool items, for cheap too.  Last year I got a bag of pink Christmas ornaments for $5.00, much to Matt’s dismay.  (This led to the purchase of a white Christmas tree! 😉 )  At the same house, I found some really large 24×36 wooden frames.  I think they were $1.00 for both!  They are currently hanging above the buffet in the living room waiting to be made over.

This year, my usual partner was actually participating so Mom said she would go with me.  I managed to snag a few free baskets from a friend at our first stop.  Mom found a large outdoor lantern and some pics at our 2nd stop (and spent almost all of her money!) After that it was kind of slow.  It didn’t feel like many people were participating this year.  As we were headed back to the house we stopped at a sale just down the street.  There was a large painting sitting off to the side.  Mom and I were talking about it when the sellers came over.  Apparently it had been “Aunt Ida’s”.  They said they weren’t sure Aunt Ida ever liked the pic but she had had it for years.  It was about the size I was looking for for over the guest bed but the painting was not really my style.  While a nice landscape, it just wouldn’t work in the house.  I asked how much and when the lady said $10.00, I knew it was coming home with me.

I told Mom Matt was going to kill me but the frame alone was worth probably $50.00 or more.  So my grand vision, paint over the existing canvas.  Yep! Matt didn’t care that I’d bought the pic but he was curious as to how long it was going to sit in the garage.  I might have a few or five other projects currently sitting out there.  :O

Yesterday, I ran to Michael’s to get some Gesso.  I knew I could use that to cover the existing print and also to add more texture.  So right now it’s in the garage with a few light Gesso coats on it.  Since I hadn’t used Gesso before, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and get paints too.  Plus I wanted to use a 40% off coupon for the paint set so I ran back to Michael’s at lunch to get some paints and brushes.  Now I have to figure out what I’m going to paint.  Or just see what happens.  I want to go for something pretty abstract.  I’m hoping that equates to easy.

I’m hoping to have it finished this week so we’ll see what happens.  For now, let’s just hope the original wasn’t some priceless piece of art!

~k