Lightbulbs and Floating Frames

A random post title for a few little updates I wanted to share in the Mego Cave. I actually made these right before Christmas to make the room look a little more snazzy (since this is one of the only times we use the formal dining room). First up is a great money-saving alternative for custom framing. When I was in China for a study abroad in 2008 I bought lots of beautiful artwork…most of which has been rolled up in the packaging that I brought it home in. The main reason the artwork stayed stuffed in a closet carefully tucked away was because its dimensions did not fit standard American frames. Which meant to me, custom framing. Until I met this floating frame at JoAnn Fabrics for 50% off.

It worked dimension-wise for one of my Chinese prints. How did I know? Because I have all of my artwork’s dimensions in my purse…on a scrap piece of paper…since 2008. The same piece of paper for five years. It’s a little nuts. But it allowed me to grab this puppy up for $10, knowing the print would fit in there perfectly. When I got it home, I was finally able to roll out the print and sandwich it between some books to help it lie flat, only after five years of being rolled up.

I still love this artwork after five years. The Asian artwork is not always my style, so while shopping for art in China, I tried to find paintings that were Asian, but not so traditional. I feel like this piece fits exactly. It can be hung up in my very American room and just bring some dimension and interest to the space. The floating frame was a cinch to do. You basically just sandwich the art between the two pieces of glass. The hardest part is getting it centered. Then I found the perfect place for it in the Mego Cave.

How nice does the blue in the painting tie into the mini-blind roman shades?! I’m so happy with the result, and at $10 it was a total DIY score instead of custom framing! And now, on to the next update. Now, this would just be a simple lamp switch-out, but not with this girl. I like to keep things interesting. The other weekend Eric and I went up to Charlottesville to hunt around in some thrift stores there (about an hour drive). In one of the stores, I saw this really kind of cool, kind of kooky, arm-y (not to be confused with leggy) lamp. Priced at $50 for a floor lamp, it was a good price. Yet, I didn’t get it. Instead I obsessed about it all week long, trying to talk myself out of it with things like, “Megan, it is just a lamp. This is ridiculous. You already have a lamp. Get over it.” Until the next Sunday came along when I was still thinking about that lamp, thinking it was too late. Then I found out that the store was open Sundays, and when I called they still had the lamp. So, in very spontaneous and un-Megan-like fashion, I hopped in the car and took a road trip an hour down the road just to buy a lamp. And I had a blast. I got to chat with a friend from college on the way there and then rocked out to BBC radio (man they like One Direction even more than all us kids in America) on the way back with my lamp rattling away in the hatch. Of course, a super cool lamp could go nowhere else than the Mego Cave.

Here was what the spot was looking like before. I really do like this lamp and would have lived with it for a very long time, except the other lamp apparently had to be owned by me. The forces led me to it.

Now, here is my beautiful arm-y lamp. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is just kooky enough for me to love.

I think what really drew me to this lamp is that it isn’t just something you can buy in any store and see in households across America (like the Target lamp that originally sat there). I am really embracing the idea of having items that are unique, unusual, conversation starters, and reflect your lifestyle and personality. This lamp hit all of those for me. I was a little scared it would be all glare-y and bright in your face, but it actually is a wonderful atmospheric lamp while also good for reading. So glad I made that spontaneous trip!