I'm a naturally curious person constantly looking for answers. Just today for example, I wondered how long I'd been walking around in public with a chicken feather hanging off my ass. A big feather. Long. Probably a tail feather in fact.
Sometimes I have to relent that some of these life questions have to go unanswered.
But others do not. What to do with my fireplace in the summer is one of those questions I have figured out the answer to.
Painted logs.
This was an fireplace idea I implemented a few years ago. The inspiration came from Pinterest. My niece (the one who made herself sick doing Bikram Yoga and had to go home and drink all of her kids Pedialyte.) had recently become addicted to Pinterest and was constantly sending me things.
This fireplace idea was inspired by a Pin she sent me that showed a stack of logs beside a fireplace with the ends painted. Thank you Pinterest. (sorry can't attribute to where it came from ... it was one of those stupid pins that doesn't seem to lead anywhere)
When I originally published this post a few years ago Elle Decor used this image.
I took the idea one step further and displayed the painter's palette that I used to mix my colours on. It's on a picture stand on the mantle.
If you'd like to get even more creative, you can print images on wood like I show you in this tutorial on printing on wood.
I just grabbed some old water based folk art paints I had in the basement and a cruddy Dollar Store brush.
I sat my feather covered ass down and got to work. An hour later it was done. Where did the hour go? Well ... 5 minutes can be attributed to mixing and painting the logs. The other 55 minutes involved staring at the wood deciding which pieces to paint which colour.
Looking back on this makes me sad for one MAJOR reason. A couple of years after this I finally succumbed to putting my television over my mantle because that was the most logical place for it. It's ugly. I hate it. But I also hate twisting my head in a circle in order to see the television. In the end practicality won over aesthetics.
It wood looked great, took no time at all and cost nothing. Where's that ass feather now you ask? Right in my cap.
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Amy Schmucker
You know what makes me grin? I love the devil-pig-bat-log. Or the "horny log". hee hee. Who knew that a bunch of us would want to talk about wood. I am so glad to have your posts to make my computer time so much fun.
This new season in life may just give you a new insight of all kinds of new posts to write about. Or maybe not and I am full of crap. Either way, keep writing because your damn good at it.
Erica O
Pinterest is an evil addiction. I stopped using the neighbor's meth because it wasn't anywhere near as exciting.
Anyway, did the Pinterest picture look like any of the pictures in this blog post full of purple painted wood?
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/11/wake-a-walkway-of-severed-purple-logs-by-michael-mcgillis/
Karen
Erica O - No. BUT I LOVE THAT! ~ karen
Natika
Awesome idea. So colourful and perky and perfect for summer. I love the idea of re-using the palette too. (^-^)
Sara
That's lovely! What I'd really like to see is that chair and cushion next to the fireplace. Did you make the throw pillow? I really like it! :)
Sara @ Tried & Twisted
Watch out for Pinterest -- so addicting! You'll find yourself sitting on your living room floor at 3 in the morning surrounded by felt and paint muttering to yourself with a big bowl of ice cream and/or bottle of wine nearby. Very dangerous stuff.
Love the paint palette. And here I thought it was an expensive abstract art piece!
Feral Turtle
Love it!
KiwiKat
Such an opportunity to shake your tail feather!!
krisha
Love it! I saw the same pin - planning to do it both inside and outside at our cabin!
Lori
I am so happy that you are back! Your open letter to Idris Elba had me laughing so hard. This wood painting idea is fabulous! I live in San Antonio, Texas where my fireplace is worthless and needless, and completely unused. Right now, I just have a painted canvas in front of it to cover up the hole. Your pinterest idea is perfect-- and WILL be my next project. **hearts**
Love ya, Karen!!
Karen
Thanks Lori! LOL, why do homes in Texas have fireplaces?! What's the coldest it ever gets in San Antonio?? I also really like candles inside an unused fireplace. A pretend fire. ~ karen!
Donna Huebsch
I know that it sounds unbelievable, but we're in Florida and have a fireplace that we use from about November until February or March...of course, when the highs are about 65 degrees outside it's fireplace weather to us :)
Karen
Donna - It doesn't sound unbelievable to me! I've been to Florida during January/February and it can be downright COLD! ~ karen
Ali
Very pretty!
Welcome back Karen, if you need a place to escape my guest suite is still open :)
Karen
Hi Ali - And quite an offer it was! Tempting. Very, very tempting. :) ~ karen
Naomi
Awesome idea for putting a little summer into your fireplace. I'd admire the logs while eating smores. Just sayin'.
Nancy Blue Moon
I don't have a fireplace here but that certainly brightens yours up for the season..and yeah..the Devil log is a bit scary..I suggest you burn him first..just sayin..
marilyn
love!
Jenny
Best blog ever. My fireplace has been closed off. I wonder if painting logs fire colors would look dumb? Any decorative fireplace ideas?
Karen
Jenny - I thought of using a fire coloured palette. I think it's a great idea! Especially if your fireplace isn't in use in the winter. The colours I used here are kind of summery because that's the only time the logs will be in the fireplace. Come winter it'll be filled with a real fire. So my vote is yes ... fire colours of red, orange, yellow etc. would look great. ~ karen!
JennC
Beautiful! I'm totally stealing this idea. AND I noticed that you have the same pillow I do (on the yellow chair), once again confirming our mutually good taste.
So glad you are back!!
Vicky
Tail feather on your tail. How appropriate! Welcome back, I missed you.
Karen
Thanks Vicky! ~ karen
Marion
Perfect. This would also be really neat painted gold and silver for Christmas/winter (hopefully nobody has said this so far, I don't read all the comments...)
Also, we need pictures of that feather in your cap. Although somehow I feel you will just eventually stick it in a vase, plop it down on your table and it will be fabulous!
Karen
Hi marion - No one else suggested gold and silver but that would look GREAT. For me the only problem would be come October 1st, that fireplace is blazing. And it continues to blaze until around April 15th! ~ karen
Linda S in NE
Karen, I am negligent in welcoming you back, but please know how happy I am to see "The Art of Doing Stuff" in my inbox every day. Your little respite coincided perfectly for me, because I lost my husband to Alzheimer's disease at about the same time. Needless to say, laughter was not flowing through this home. It's time for me to heal now, and reading what you write, and what your fans write, will help in that process. Take care of Karen.
Nancy R.
Hi Karen,
I'm new to your website and this is my first post. I love your blog - so witty and brainy. So glad you're back :-)
Karen
Thanks Nancy R.! ~ karen
Kim
The real questions is did you shake the tail feather? :)
Fireplace looks great!