I started this wall display last week by up cycling a Welcome sign I found at the Thrift Store. You can see how I did it here: https://www.thriftingwonderland.com/post/preparing-a-new-display
This week I had to decide what else was going to be displayed on that wall. You can see how to make the display shelves here:
https://www.thriftingwonderland.com/post/diy-apartment-dining-space
We had a fabulous trip to Ireland a couple of years ago. Like a lot of people with digital cameras most of the photos we take remain on the camera or in our photo files on the computer. Very few photos get printed and even fewer are displayed. All those memories of great times together are not where we can readily see them.
So, for this next display, I decided to put together a photo collection of some of our favorite moments in Ireland. We were there for about two and a half months so there were a lot of moments. I’ll probably rotate out the photos every few weeks so we have lots of our moments to share.
The first step was to establish a color scheme to pull the display together. Since the background of the Welcome Sign was black, I decided to go with black frames. The color would come from the photographs. I pulled out all the black frames I had collected at different Thrift Stores……frames that fit my parameters. I still needed a few more frames so at our next Thrift Store outing frames were on our list. We were fortunate to find some that would fit our needs. I’m sure most of you who are thrifters have bought a frame or two. I am constantly amazed by the low prices for frames that can be found at Thrift Stores. I rarely pay more than a dollar or two. Larger more intricate frames are generally under $10. Usually the art work can be discarded but sometimes it’s worth keeping and displaying.
It would have been simple if the frames all worked with standard photo sizes but, of course, that was not the case. Some of the frames had mats in them for custom pictures so they had to be replaced. So back to my stash to pull out some mats that could be cut to fit.
So using precise measurements (my hubby did that part) the new mats were cut and placed in the frames. We had lots of fun choosing which photos to feature and talking about the memories they evoked.
Some frames held more than one picture. This one held three: Trim Castle, Pulnabron Dolman and Dromberg Stone Circle. I love the green colors that surround these ancient monuments that have survived countless centuries.
You can’t be in Ireland and not eat Fish & Chips and visit beautiful gardens. It was hard to take the pictures of this without reflections from outside showing in the frames. You can see here that the pictures are displayed in different sized frames. The size of photos ranged from 4×6 to 8×10. The variety of sizes add interest to the display.
A variety of colors also add to the diversity on the display wall. A cafe owner has a great display of food and crockery as we order our breakfast. We had the thrill of a lifetime when Peregrine Falcons landed on our arms on a hill overlooking Tara on a windy afternoon.
Pouring a Guiness behind the bar of a local pub…..another highlight of the trip. The Irish are the most welcoming and generous people we have encountered on our travels. They are truly the epitome of the world welcome which fits in beautifully with the Welcome Sign in the center of the display.
I’ll end with a picture of our “private” beach in Ireland. We found it one day while exploring the Western Shore of Ireland. In the background is Skellig Michael. The sun was highlighting the waves as they moved toward shore even though the skies were cloudy. A typical Irish day.
This display was really a labor of love and cost next to nothing as most everything was thrifted…..except the photos. We’ll be able to enjoy our memories of a lovely time in a beautiful country whenever we look at this wall.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand…………an Irish Blessing