We got an email from some readers recently, proclaiming themselves to be “Our Number 1 fans from Seattle”. You boys will have to battle that title out with some of our other Seattle fans…..
Peter and Joe were headed to Texas for a few days and wanted some advice for places not to be missed. Of course, your Cavender boys had a few suggestions……
Included in the email were a handful of pictures of their Seattle living room. All the usual things that we love ……globes, Pendleton, postcards, vintage books, framed Indians, a velum suitcase absolutely covered in vintage hotel stickers…my head is spinning just writing about it. But our favorite element by far was the fireplace artwork…
Take a gander…
Yeah the suitcase, and books, and even the tractor seat intrigued us, but we really caught us by the throat was the white-on-black art piece. How clever is that?
We asked how they did it…….
Peter writes,
CHALLENGE
I moved into a contemporary condo that is Triple B – Beige Builder Basic. Like most other renters, I am not allowed to make any permanent changes to the décor of my apartment. Although I love the look of chalkboard paint, I cannot repaint any of my walls due to strict tenant guidelines.
SOLUTION
I used roofing paper, thumbtacks, sidewalk chalk and hairspray to personalize my fireplace with a temporary chalk art solution.
STEPS
I cut the paper to size and wrapped my fireplace walls to create a canvas that was both blank and black. Like non-adhesive wallpaper, I tacked the roofing paper above the mantel, taking additional care to secure the corners with extra thumbtacks.
Once I had my writing surface, I chose my content. Joe and I moved to Seattle because he works for NBC and took a new position with the Seattle affiliate. The move happened very quickly – so quickly that we pretty much moved with nothing but clothes. In truth, we own a condo in Minneapolis (where we are from), and with no time to sell it, we decided to rent it furnished. As such, we literally left all decor and furniture behind.
As we drove our loaded Honda to the Puget Sound through Mt. Rushmore, Cody and Yellowstone, we blasted “Go West!” (Both the Village People and Pet Shop Boys version). Hence, the textual choice on our wall.
I chose the words to the song “Go West” as text – with some personal twists on the lyrics. While you could trace ledger lines with a pencil, I chose to write freeform, holding a yardstick as my guide.
As a final step, I sprayed the entire surface down with aerosol hairspray to prevent smudging. You can specifically buy fixative art spray, but as an art student, I always used hairspray as a money-saving substitute. Plus, it’s also good for rooms with poor ventilation. Before using either, spray a test area to make sure there isn’t any discoloration.
TIPS
Handle with care:
Most roofing paper is asphalt based, so it may scuff your walls. As you hang the paper, be precise so you don’t smudge the surrounding surface. For any accidental marks, soapy water and elbow grease should do the job.
Slow down:
Unlike a traditional chalkboard, tar paper is not forgiving; in other words, you probably won’t be able to erase any mistakes. Write carefully so you don’t have to start over and rehang your paper due to a typo.
This flower is both annual and perennial:
Originally, I intended to replace the black paper and redo the text periodically. I was skeptical about how long the thumbtacks would stick and the chalk would hold up. Two years later, however, the fireplace looks just as it did when the project was completed. While I’ve kept my original installation, some seasonal suggestions would be to display your favorite yuletide lyrics as holiday décor, or incorporate a poem or greeting for a themed party.”
Thanks Peter, for sharing your creative art solution.
Go West, indeed.
Wish I had thought of that……..
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THE CAVENDER DIARY 
How many more Seattle fans do you need to count before you head West yourselves? I now count 3, who else? 😉
We have some frinds that live in “Snoqualmie”, just waiting for them to chime in….We do need to visit. Lord knows that I love Pendelton
When you visit Snoqualmie, visit nearby Snohomish. You’ll love it. It’s like Gruene, minus the Dance Hall, but plus more shops.
~Peter
As soon as I can pronounce them ……. I’ll visit
What an honor to be featured on Cavender Diary! I hope everyone likes this idea. Now that you’ve seen the song that we picked for our fireplace, what would everyone else choose to write on their own walls?
Clever solution! I like the Triple B reference. 🙂
My choice would be Better Together by Jack Johnson!
There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things
Like a, shoebox of photographs
With sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it’s so hard?
It’s not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together
Yes! Now that I see it, I think a drive to the hardware store is in my future! Can’t wait to get started! Thank you to Peter and Cavender Diary!
That is a GREAT one…who desn’t love Jack Johnson?
Thanks, Chelsie and Kristi! Jack Johnson is a great acoustic rock reference. I think next time, I would follow suit and maybe go with some classic Bob Dylan, Paul Simon or The Boss. Oh- who am I kidding… Next time, I’m totally just going to use Spice Girls. 😉
~Peter