This adorable handmade poncho was actually brought back from Peru by my amazing sister-in-law a few years ago (thanks Ali!), and I was literally counting down the days until Clara was big enough to wear it. She has gotten a ton of use out of it over the last few years and it even made it onto the cover of a local mag (it was perfect for the holiday colors they were going for). But alas, Clara’s a growing bean, so it’s a little on the small size these days. Which would ordinarily make me want to cry, but I’ve been planning Phase 2 (aka: Operation Keep This Poncho Forever) for a while. $herdog had plans, yo.
We inherited this acrylic photo frame from John’s mom back when she and John’s dad were cleaning out their closets about a year and a half ago. Yup, this frame with some old art from John’s grade school days has just been hanging out in our crazy messy playroom for over 450 days (she says hanging her head in guilt). But from the moment John’s mom handed it over (and John proclaimed “never do I ever want to see that painting on the wall” I knew it would be a perfect place to memorialize Clara’s special Peruvian Poncho from her Aunt Ali.
So John and I took one last moment to ooh and ahh over his grade school art, and laugh at the details on the tag (John thinks the assignment was to paint something in nature – hence his 4th grade masterpiece entitled “The Sunrise Flower”).
Then I slipped off the acrylic top of the frame (I think places like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby still sell frames like this btw) and flipped the art over. The faded old charcoal colored construction paper actually looked really nice with the ponch – plus it tied into the navy curtains since it was another dark neutral layered in over the lighter and brighter tones going on in the rug and the bed. So I settled on that as the background (I’d planned to grab a large piece of decorative paper or even a yard of fabric to use as the background if the back of the art was a dud, but I ended up loving the understated effect of the paper because it doesn’t compete with the poncho at all).
The back of the frame isn’t in the picture above, but it’s in the picture below (and also the one below this one) which might further explain how the frame fits together. It’s basically just a white cardboard box that slides into the acrylic box front and there are small holes on the back of the cardboard box that allow you to hang it on the wall. It’s nice and light which is a huge bonus. But the sides of this frame had seen better days (they were scuffed and scratched), so I grabbed some white duct tape and folded them around each side of the frame for a nice clean and finished look that wasn’t all banged up and smudged after decades of use and storage
Then I laid the paper on top of the newly taped box and placed the ponch down right in the center.
The last step was slowly sliding the acrylic front back on (it’s snug enough to hold on its own, so there was no need to tape down the poncho or tape the acrylic front into place). The reason that slowly is a key adjective in that last sentence is that I learned that quickly pushing the top down on the poncho made the fringe blow out and get all crazy looking so it didn’t lay normally (it looked like it was frozen in the middle of a cyclone, so I removed the front, brushed the fringe back down with my fingers, and went back and did it muuuch slower).
Success.
For now it’s hanging above her play kitchen to the right of the wall with the postcard shelves but we’re not sure it’ll stay up there alone (sometimes it looks a little too small all by itself, and sometimes we like that it’s a simple singular piece of art to enjoy on that small wall). So we’ll keep you posted. Update: we added a little something else, which looks even more fun in cahoots with the poncho, so we’ll share the pics as soon as we can!
Sorry for the lackluster pic, the reflections in the acrylic were killing me, so all the closer ones except for the super angled one above were el stinko. It’s a lot more vibrant in person (where you also don’t see the reflections like you do in a photo). If you scroll up to the first pic, the poncho still reads as that color in real life – and it plays off some of the green tones in the flash cards on the shelves nearby and even in the frame collage art and our new Katie Daisy print on the opposite side of the room.
So now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of the poncho part of this post’s title, what about playing hooky? Well… see those hooks hanging to the right of the closet door?
Let’s get a little closer.
They’re Anthropologie hooks that were actually passed along to us during the book tour by Jesse and her sweet hubby Rick in Cincinnati (we house crashed them so we were old friends by the time we got to the signing where they were so generously thrusting them into our hands saying “we thought Clara would love them so much”). It was so thoughtful of them, and from the moment I saw the elephant and the giraffe I knew they were right. Clara would love them and they’d be awesome for her big girl room. And the moment she saw them? Let’s just say that the girl might surpass me in ceramic animal love. She’s obsessed with them. She even named them. Meet “Manna.”
And “Bamma.” Yes, those are their names. Manna is awesome about holding almost anything (stretchy necklaces, belts, and even a paint deck that Clara loves sharing with me). And Bamma is currently keeping Clara’s hair bows clipped on leftover ribbon from my gift-wrapping stash.
We hung the bottom one within her reach, so she can play with things on the hooks as well as clean them up/put them back when she’s done – but kept the top one slightly out of her current grasp (although I’m sure she’ll be able to reach it soon enough) in case we want to put something up there that we’d rather get down for her or keep her from tossing all over the room every day, like a bevvy of necklaces and bracelets. I’m sure what they’re holding will change a ton of times, but for now it’s a fun little mix of function and straight up fun (yes, I’m all chest-swelly and proud that my bean loves paint chips and ceramic animals just as much as I do). And see the space on top of the hooks on that sliver of wall? I still have plans for a little piece of homemade art to hang right there (so it balances more with the frame collage on the left of the closet door)…
We still have some other items on the to-do list of course (getting new sheets for the bed, adding some crown molding, painting or refinishing the dresser, possibly painting the ceiling once the crown goes up, etc). We’ll get there someday I’m sure! And you know we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime are you hanging any hooks or ponchos or using acrylic display boxes that are almost as old as you? Stranger things have happened…
No hanging ponchos but we did just hang our DIY Mason Jar chandelier in our Living Room turned Dining Room!! :)
http://bit.ly/W7Sqz4
Looks awesome Josh!
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What a cute poncho! Using the duct tape for the border was a very clever solution!
Aw thanks Kristen!
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Good heavens, I am loooving the way this room is coming together! So many cute and personal details :)
I’ve been working on a map art DIY and it’s currently stumping me but while lying in bed last night I thought of a new way to tackle it, so wish me luck!
Lots of luck!
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We put Greta’s little blessing outfit in a shadowbox in her room (after I shed a few tears over it while sorting through her old clothes) and it was a great addition to the room!
http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2013/01/a-shadow-box-for-ages.html
Totally on board with framing clothes. :)
So cute!
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The poncho looks really cute framed and maybe I’m a sentimental fool but I think it would’ve been really sweet to hang John’s elementary masterpiece in her room. The flower and sky totally match! Actually, I think it would be cool to hang a piece you did back then beside John’s and then leave a spot for when she’s in 4th grade too. :)
Haha! John has forbid it! But I still have it saved under the bed in the guest room. Shh…
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Those little hooks are awesome! What a sweet gift! :)
What a great idea to keep all Clara’s hairbows together, too! And that frame collage is still my favorite thing in the room… I’m really digging that wall! :)
Aw thanks Jess!
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Love the poncho! My parents framed an itty bitty knit baby bikini of mine and grouped it with a saying with my name and maybe the birth announcement. I love it!
So cute!
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Hi! Wouldn’t it be easier to paint the ceiling before putting the crown molding up? It’s easier to cut up than down.I’ve never done crown molding before, so I am definitely curious. :)
Yes, it probably would be easier! I’m just not sure we’ll be able to pick a color until we see it against white crown instead of against the wall color, but maybe we can just hold up a piece of molding to decide! Great idea.
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i’m LOVING the giraffe hook…and the sweet way to hold onto the poncho!!! i love it all. seriously, can i move into clara’s big girl room?
Haha, come on over!
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you totally just reminded me that i have a pair of old knit baby bellbottoms from when i was a kid that i can hang up! i had them out in college- hanging on a twine and clothespin display along with some other photos and postcards (cause nothing says college cool like your old bellbottoms). i love the poncho in acrylic frame idea! i actually just looked at them recently at michael’s: my niece gave me some photos that she took and framed in acrylic cases a long time ago and i love them but keep knocking them off the wall since they stick very far out so i actually needed a new one.
clara’s room is coming together so beautifully! when is she going to move in? are you moving anything from her gallery wall into her new room?
We’ll definitely move personal things from her nursery into her big girl room once she’s no longer sleeping in the nursery (just don’t want to strip that room while she’s still sleeping in there). She’s still happy to sleep in her crib and play in her big girl room so we’re taking her lead with the whole moving beds thing!
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I love that poncho on display! It is so cute and sweet to have that reminder of Clara and her family who went to Peru and brought it back for her!
Ha! Manna and Bamma! Kids give their toys/home decor such cute names. :)
And even though I haven’t blogged about any home redecoration yet, I totally feel you with the acrylic reflection challenges! Sometimes my cooking pictures (with glass bowls) and even my sewing projects (depending on the fabric) are a pain to photograph!
This big girl room is sooo fun! I bet Clara can’t wait to sleep in it! Heck, I would take this as my big girl room! It is a great combination of childlike fun and design!
The room is coming along! At first I thought the poncho may be cuter against a different background color . White maybe? Brighter blue? But it also looks very cool as it is. Tough call. Thankfully – it looks great :)
Hum….maybe a picture of Clara wearing the poncho is the “something else” you added to that wall? I get such inspiration from your blog and wish you continued success.
Aw, that’s a cute idea!
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Call me curious, but what are you guys doing with all the stuff that used to live in the room (I’m doubting you sold all of it at the garage sale)??
A lot of it was sold at the yard sale or auctioned off for our book auction (a ton of the stuff in there were secret book project pieces, like large items of furniture). The rest was donated and a small amount is still being stored in the guest room closet, under the guest bed, and in the basement (just piles of leftover frames, some art prints we love but haven’t hung, extra pillows, etc).
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We just picked up 3 shadow boxes for projects in the past 48 hours.
My hub decided since the deal at JoAnn’s was too good to resist- 50% off plus 20% more for military during their President’s Day sale (60% total).
We’re hoping to get 1 or more done with our upcoming wave of snow storms starting tomorrow.
That’s awesome!
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I am in love with the way this big girl room is coming together. It’s definitely your best kid’s room yet. ;)
Looking at that last picture, I thought they should paint the closet door a fun color, maybe the same yellow as the front door. Just a thought.
Ooh that’s a fun idea!
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I really like the suggestion of painting the closet doors! Navy would look really nice.
That poncho is beautiful – such a great idea to frame it! I remember those acrylic frames – I used to have a million of them, in fact, I’d bet there are still some in our basement now :) (hoarder?)
No poncho, but we have a shadow box with Arabella’s coming home from the hospital outfit, Daddy’s scrub shirt that the nurses put her footprints on & her hospital crib ID tag hanging in her room. I adore it!
So cute!
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John and I went to the same elementary school! Not at the same time though . . .
So funny!
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I just inappropriately LOL’d at work at “$herdog had plans, yo.” Haha! $herdog, you’re awesome!
I have some fun colorful hooks from IKEA that are dog butts and the tails are the hooks (these guys: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60095321/) for my son’s room. I think you just inspired me to finally hang them.
So cute! Have fun with those!
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I saved and framed one of my husband’s favourite t-shirts in the same manner. We both love it so much!
http://turtlesandtails.blogspot.ca/2013/01/diy-art-from-favourite-t-shirt.html
So sweet! I LOVE how so many folks are down with hanging fabric/clothing/baby booties on the wall! Ever since we framed our hospital band in her nursery we’ve been itching to hang some sweet toddler item of clothing in her big girl room! It’s addicting!
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this is so sweet! I actually have a poncho just like that from when I was a little girl (except mine is yellow) :)
So cute!
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Super cute! Just wondering if the kitchen set has found its forever home in that corner? It could be just the angle the picture was taken, but it looks awfully crowded over there.
For now it’s in that corner since Clara likes it there- haha! But who knows where it’ll end up! This room is definitely still a work in progress!
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The framed poncho looks so cute!
A small (paranoid) word of warning – construction paper, especially old construction paper is almost always not acid free. While you like the color of the fade, you might want to consider replacing that paper with something a little more archival. I can’t say for sure that the paper would affect the back of the poncho, but I’d be torn about taking the risk.
I love how the room is coming along!
Thanks for the tip Laura!
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I totally agree about using acid free or archival backing for poncho(lovely and so sweet). The paper gives off gases which are trapped in frame. It would be worth the change. I love how you are layering and revealing Clara’s room.
Thanks Pat!
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I had the exact same thought Laura. I studied textile conservation in graduate school and would also warn against the use of the construction paper. Construction paper, cardboard boxes, and anything made from wood pulp will leach acid onto textiles leaving tiny brown stains that can never be fully removed.
Using a cotton fabric backing would be your best bet if you don’t want to shell out for a piece of acid-free paper that large. Also, I understand the need for the acrylic being right on top of the poncho to hold it in place, so just make sure to keep an eye on it if the house ever gets really humid…if moisture makes its way to the inside of the acrylic make sure to dry it off before it can become a hospitable environment for mold!
The color of the poncho looks beautiful in the room though, and I think it is a great way to save it without sticking it in a closet somewhere that no one gets to enjoy!
Ooh the cotton backing idea is great! Thanks!
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SQUEEEEEE! I made that bow that’s on top of her ribbon of bows! I’m glad to see she likes it. Also, I LOVE the hooks! I must find something like that for my kiddos’ room. We call my son a giraffe b/c he’s so tall (2 1/2 and 40″ tall!) and my daughter’s name is Ellie, so we’ve accumulated lots of elephant stuff for her. And I love what you did with the poncho – I may need to try that with a special outfit for each of my kiddos – such a great way to preserve something special :o)
Aw she loves it Donna! You’re a bow artiste!
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I love it. My father gave our little guy a dress shirt and I’ve been wanting to do something with it for a long time. This is perfect. :-)
needless to say, that poncho is completely fab & i also love using clothing as art… but is it wrong to say that i really rather loved john’s art too?
I did too! I was forbidden to hang it. But I totally saved it under the guest bed. Shhh…
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Poncho is absolutely gorgeous and so unique!
Forgive me for being the grammar police. I really try, but sometimes I can’t help myself and this is one of those times.
You say ” . . . but I ended up loving the understated affect of the paper because it doesn’t compete with the poncho at all).”
Should be “effect.”
Oh yes, sorry Carolyn! All fixed!
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Make sure you attach a note from Ali about where she got the poncho and other details (including maybe a picture of Clara wearing it) to the back of the frame.
My step father left me a framed flag that went into space on one of the shuttles (he was a NASA employee) but the frame was in bad shape. When I took it to be re-framed we found a letter underneath that explained about it. The frame shop put the letter in an adhesive backed sheet saver and attached it to the back of the framed piece.
That’s such a sweet idea!
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Looking good!! has Clara transitioned into her big girl room yet – or are y’all waiting for the final touches to be in place before moving her in?
We’re waiting for her to want to leave her crib (she loves it, so we’re taking her lead).
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What a cute way to save that adorable poncho! I LOVE the hooks!!
Love those hooks! I’m collecting hook ideas right now for a coat rack project we have coming up….they have elephants at Hobby Lobby, too, I discovered last weekend. And mermaids! Really, I think they have pretty much everything at Hobby Lobby.
So cute!!!!!!!!!!! i have kept some outfits of my daughters (they are now 16 and 13), and i now know what i need to do!!!! I think their little mexican dresses would look precious!!
I’ve always wanted to get little mexican dress to your bean, but unfortunately, you havnt had a show closer to me that I could attend.
I am IN LOVE with those hooks, and also….my mom saved all of my “favorite outfits” when I was a kid and gave them to me on my 21st birthday. It was soooo fun to see my favorite styles and remember some fun times in my rainbow leopord jumpsuit.
That’s so cute!! What an awesome mom!
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Clara’s big girl room is looking so great! Plus, I think it’s coming together so quickly! Have you ever looked at a TJ Maxx for bedding? They have great things for great prices. (Including pillows…..)
Love that idea!
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Sigh…if only Clara were an SEC college football fan she would have realized the elephant should be “Bamma”. lol
Love the poncho as art!
Hahah!
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I was thinking the same thing!
Cute poncho and idea but I think the dark background looks too heavy and competes too much. Did you try white? The poncho might “pop” more (to use one of your favorite words). Maybe the other stuff you have planned will make not be so strong a pull to the corner of the room. Enjoying this makeover.
We love the charcoal for now, but you never know where we’ll end up! Maybe white will pop up (although that’s in the play kitchen below and the play table and the daybed so we don’t want white overload, ya know?).
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Brilliant! My in-laws just gave us several of my husband’s junior high masterpieces…including self portraits. I stashed them in the closet while grumbling about what the heck I was supposed to do w/ that crap! Never did it occur to me that I had just scored some new frames! Thanks, you just gave me the attitude adjustment that I needed! And the room is looking great! Clara is one lucky lady!
Aw thanks Lisa!
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Ummm? Are you actually planning to keep the poncho long term? Serious question, not a making fun of your decorating choices question. You see, a lot of paper contains acid. Construction paper from grade school days – FULL of it. If you want that poncho around and in good shape in 10 years, go buy a nice acid free backing paper. Acid migrates, and the acid in the paper backing will end up in your lovely poncho. This has a pretty good description:
http://miniatures.about.com/od/printablematerials/f/Use-Acid-Free-Materials-To-Help-Preserve-Your-Miniatures.htm
Again, this is a long term archival type question – if you think it is fun now, but long term it will go to a charity store, the craft paper backing is fine.
Oh yes, others have passed along this tip! Thanks so much! Sounds awesome!
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I have the same poncho (in red) from Peru (my parents were missionaries there for 5 years) for my 2 year old daughter. GREAT idea of what to do with it once she outgrows it! Thanks for the idea!
NO WAY! That’s awesome! What a small world.
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Take some fabric and extend the poncho so she can keep wearing it! I thought that’s where you were heading with this post… :)
I just love it so much on the wall now! Hah!
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RE: John’s 4th grade art work
Do you mean John has forbade…?
Haha, yes! Or is it John has forbidden? Haha!
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This is so very sweet! I’m thinking about doing that with the outfit I brought my daughter home from the hospital in, or you could do it with a christening gown if you’re into that. You wouldn’t even need a very big frame to house the welcome home outfit! She was so tiny, what happened to my baby?! If cracks me up how you refer to yourself as $herdawg, dollah sign and all. Seems like you guys know how to have fun. Great job as usual!
This room is looking great! I love seeing the Ballerina hair bow that we gave Clara at your Chicago book tour! I hope she likes it!
So cute! It reminds me of Ugly Betty’s framed poncho, but of course Clara’s is so much more fashionable :)
Hahahh! I forgot about that show!
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Why would John forbid a picture he drew in 4th grade to be hung in a kids room – i don’t get it.
He just doesn’t like it! He loves Clara’s art but not his own. Hah! He’s his own worst critic :)
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I framed an old ballet costume from when I was little for my daughter’s room. I had it professionally done in a shadow box though (about $450), but I love it. I love how the apple green tutu pops against her purple walls. It’s way better than just storing it in a box unseen forever.
So cute!
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