Fabric Covered Mat Board; How To Secretly Elevate Your Art Work on a Tight Budget
Let me be frank, I am thrifty on a lot of things but especially when it comes to accessorizing my home. I can justify buying quality furniture as I consider these long term investments, but when it comes to all the decorative fun stuff, I just can’t let myself splurge. Reason being? It's twofold. First, I am fickle. I realize trends come and go so rather than changing costly rooms of furniture, I can be frugal just by changing out a few accessories. Second, I LOVE a good vintage "score." Low-cost and unique. However, a good vintage picker always knows, "Good things come to those who wait (and hunt often)."
Recently, I ordered a new sofa from my favorite local furniture store, SC Furniture. Knowing it would take awhile, I took my time to find perfect complimentary artwork. Something new would have been too easy to find, and seeing as the sofa and coffee table were fresh out of the store, I knew I had to add some vintage art with a story to balance out my eclectic home. (Yes, there is a method to the madness of an eclectic home- haha)
After searching artwork and paper collectables on Etsy and Ebay, I landed on 5 antique point lace patterns from an encyclopedia in 1881. I loved these victorian patterns as they look so architectural from a far, yet so pretty and delicate up close. Besides that, they would make for a great conversation piece. I mean come on?! What better subject than, “My art work is actually a lace pattern of a toilette seat cushion?” Who wouldn’t want to take closer look at that? On Ebay, I paid $50 for 5 with shipping. I then went to TJMaxx and bought 4 matching frames, each $16.99; a literal steal!
they look so architectural from a far, yet so pretty and delicate up close.
When I got home, I tried the frames with the mat board included, but the mat was a blinding white next to the vintage pages. Obviously, that was not going to work.
Determined to finish my project and not willing to try and reselect frames, I opted to just change up the mat. I considered painting them but worried the paint coverage would be inconsistent. Hmm…Perhaps covering them with paper, but then again, I would have to go to the art store. Okay, maybe just getting new mat boards cut but that would take both time and more money. Soooo…. Off to the garage, where all things are possible and free.
There I found a couple of cuts of velvet in grays and teal (might be pretty)? Burlap? A little dated. Multi-colored tweed? Might be too busy. Bingo! 1.5 yards of an upholstery fabric in burnt umber, a bark color I had once considered for my banquette cushions.
Everything else, I had on hand; spray adhesive, scissors, and mounting tape.
So the run down on cost
$50 for 5 prints (only used 4)
$70 for 4 frames
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$120 and about an hour of time
Pretty good right? The frames are modern and clean, the matting looks stunning and so luxe against the old tattered pages of history. I am sure for anyone who doesn't read this post, they will look at my family room art and think I invested a lot of money in framing. If they only knew… Can it be our little secret? Shhh…
It was about being resourceful, looking at things from another perspective and then giving these pages new life.
Still waiting on a new rug and in search of my next flea market score, specifically a side table. Do you have something in your house that is vintage or an antique with meaning? I know I have a strange affinity with old things; like I have a responsibility to respect them and properly display them, especially items that probably were taken for granted at some point in time. Think about it. These very pages on lace patterns found in a Cassell’s Encyclopedia of Domestic and Social Economy were never thought of as art. Back then these pages were just a reference guide; conventional and basic.
Simply put, it doesn't take a lot of money to make things beautiful in your home. In this case, it was about being resourceful, looking at things from another perspective and then giving these pages new life. I gave yesteryear’s “basics” an opportunity to become something modern and quite beautiful.
So to the nameless artist behind my new prints, I realize you are no longer with us, but I am forever grateful of your craft and artistry. I hope my art tells a little of your story whoever you are.
***Link to the Ebay Shop I bought these from.
