I have really smart friends. Smart, artsy, creative. I always say it’s wise to befriend people who have skills and talents you lack.

I don’t always say that. But I think it’s true.

In college, I had a friend, Mallory, who was an artist. A legit artist. I saw this incredible oversized piece she made, fell in love with it and wouldn’t stop pestering her until she let me have it. It’s EIGHT FEET TALL.
My knowledge of art and art collecting is about as in-depth as my knowledge of the mating habits of squirrels, but I think when you see a piece that you LOVE, that’s about all that matters.

(Update: Andy just read this post and offered to do a guest post on the Mating Habits of Squirrels. Which is just the kind of lifechanging education you’ve come to expect here at The View Along the Way.)

My friend titled the piece “Rising Above,” and said it was inspired by her desire to seek God in everything. I died. I loved it so much, I knew that it had to live at the top of my stairway, where it feels like you’re ascending into the sky when you reach the top of the stairs.

One tiny problem. My friend had to mail me the piece, so she rolled it up, stuck it in a tube and sent it my way. Because she used mixed media, the canvas had dried unevenly. I wish I had a better before shot (FAIL AGAIN! ARGH!), but you can (kinda?) see that at this point in our reno, it was hanging crookedly and didn’t even look square.
Okay, you can’t really see. Sorry. Promise: it was hanging weird.

So we whipped up this little frame using cheapo 1″ x 2″ inch boards.

By “we,” I mean: I contributed by requesting that Andy build it, and then looking over his shoulder while did. Always happy to help, I am.

With the frame built, we wrapped the canvas around the frame and stapled it on, like wrapping a gift.
So much better!
I know art like this is not everyone’s cup-o-tea. Maybe you don’t love it, maybe you think it’s too huge or whatev. Totally cool with that. I love it every single day and it makes me a happy girl.