Repurposed 10 WAYS TO REPURPOSE MASON JARS
THOUGHTS & TIPS FROM TIP-TOP DESIGNERS
A DAY AT THE EASTERN IOWA HOMESHOW
LIVE•LOVE•CREATE: SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL ARTISTS
Go Light Your Candle Co. • Soy Candles • Decorah, IA
Contents Editor’s Note •••••• p. 5
the Evolution of interior design •••••• p. 20
A Day at the Eastern Iowa Home Show •••••• p. 8
Live, Love, Create: Bringing a Love of Art to Small-town Iowa •••••• p. 24
10 Ways to Use Mason Jars •••••• p. 17
Thoughts & Tips from Tip-Top Designers •••••• p.33
• 3 •
s
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e H v i t a a
don’t have to be dry hands.
Burt’s Bees: for the creative ones
• Editor’s Note • Wouldn’t it be nice to have the money, time, and resources to dedicate to making your space look like it came straight out of an episode of Fixer Upper? As a college student, I struggle with finding ways to decorate my tiny apartment bedroom that are cheap but still practical and cute. I love the refurbished, shabby-chic design idea, and my Pinterest is covered in old farmhouse-type decorating tips and styles. Little by little, I try to incorporate as much color as I can as well. But decorating on a college budget is tough, and I figure I’m not the only one who has this issue. So, I decided to do my research and come up with fun ways to decorate on a budget and ways to repurpose simple & old items to make them new again. This issue features two incredible local artists, highlights of the Eastern Iowa Homeshow, ways to repurpose mason jars, and more! Whether you’ve done countless do-it-yourself projects, or if this is your first step into the DIY trend, this issue of Repur-
posed offers a variety of ideas and ways to amp up your space. Enjoy!
- Carli
Galligan
Editor of Repurposed
• 5 •
Sharpie
6 & 7 -- Double person ad
®
-design it your way-
A Day at the
Eastern Iowa
Home Show At the 5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center - Waterloo, IA
Welcome sign outside of the 5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, where the show was held.
Top left: bathroom remodel displays, top right: livingroom setting, Bottom: colorful couch display
(Clockwise, from top left): Various fireplace displays, contemporary bathroom vanity, latest flag pole displays, outdoor patio accent water feature
“New Home, Remodeling,
(Clockwise, from top): Exhibitors and spectators discuss various outdoor and indoor home improvement options, colorful garden accent pieces
& Landscaping Showcase�
Left: Glamorous interior lighting feature; Top right: glass globe garden features; Bottom right: tile shower design
Top: kitchen table centerpiece display, Bottom: garden accessories & decorations
(Clockwise, top left): breakfast nook display, gutter improvement options, garden accessories
Collages by Jenna • Decorah, IA www.collagesbyj.com
Need a place to put spare change? Grab a mason jar!
Smaller jars hold just the right amount of dried herbs and spices!
For less than $10, you can find these cute lights at most craft stores to create a mini lantern!
10 ways to use
Smaller jars are ideal for holding pens & pencils!
Mason Jars
Any size of jar works well for storing sugar & flour!
Wrap twine around the outside of a jar to create uniqe designs & decor pieces!
Mason jars come in various sizes, which make them great containers for foods such as overnight oats!
• 17 •
Need bathroom storage? Small jars are perfect for Q-tips & cotton balls!
Use as a drinking glass + put a small circle of corkboard inside the lid to create a cute & functional coaster!
Mason jars make great vases for pretty flowers! Paint your jar for an extra pop of color.
The Blue Bonnet Crafters Co. • San Antonio, TX
k l a h C it
! p U
The Evolution 1. CLASSICAL – 18th Century
o
3. TUSCAN – Mid-19th Century
• serene colors • symmetry & balance • elegant
• rough textures • stone & tiles • warm tones & natural light
http://www.danazhom inspirational-inte http://ravismalden.com/classic-interior-design/classic-interior-photo-in-classic-interior-design/
2. TRADITIONAL – Mid-18th Century
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f7/8d/40/ f78d4007f115684221a2299290f1adac.jpg
5. MODERN – E
• min • bold • statem • neutral
• dark, rich woods • detailed molding & trim • soft edges, round curves • tailored, refined windows
4. RUSTIC – Late 19th Century • raw wood & stone • repurposed objects • simple, natural fabrics • earthy colors http://mecraftsman.com/19-rustic-home-decor-brief-insight-application/rustic-home-decor-ideas-bathroom/
http://www.wearefound.com/timeless-traditional-home-interior-design/
• 20 •
http://design-stu
of
Interior Design 7. CONTEMPORARY – Early 20th Century • easily confused with the modern style • natural materials like steel, plastic, & concrete • natural tones with accent colors mixed in • open spaces
me-decor.xyz/modern-home-design/ erior-design-for-living-room/
Early 20th Century
nimalistic d patterns ment lighting l, solid colors
http://www.best99-home-decorpictures.us/transitional-decor/lovely-and-fabulous-transitional-kitchen-designs-interior-vogue/
http://www.contemporist.com/robert-bailey-designs-a-contemporary-update-for-a-1980salpine-chalet/
6. ECLECTIC – Early 20th Century
udio-ideas.ru/en-us/interior-design/interior-design-styles/eclectic-style
• vibrant colors • neutral bases • vintage furniture • use of accessories & textures
8. TRANSITIONAL – MID-20TH CENTURY • blend of contemporary & traditional styles • minimal accents • textural elements • neutral colors
9. SHABBY-CHIC Late 20th Centruy • aged & distressed • vintage elements • layers of varying shades of white • patterned fabrics
• 21 •
https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-02-the-mid-century-modestly-pricedhouse/
Available at most craft stores & department stores
Hand-Painted Signs & Picture Frames By Maggie E.
Live *Love*Create Bringing a love of art to small-town Iowa
Story by Carli Galligan • Pictures courtesy of Megan & Bobby Sobczak and Carli Galligan • February 15, 2017
P
ainting is their medium, and their personalities are reflected in the styles they have adopted.
Sobczak and her husband, Bobby, are a dynamic team of artists from Waverly, Iowa, that offers their creativity to their community. For thirteen years, Megan worked as a nurse and painted on the side. But recently, she decided to work as an artist full time alongside her husband.
The two create custom paintings and murals, and Sobczak teaches painting classes as well, which are offered at their home studio just outside of Waverly. “Being able to create and paint and teach people how to paint for a living is extremely gratifying,” Sobczak said. In a lot of her classes, most attendees are mothers, and she explained that she enjoys providing a space for them to come and take time for themselves that they might not otherwise have.
Bobby, on the other hand, has been doing graphic design and other related projects for the past four years since earning his bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Full Sail University.
(Cont. on Page 26)
“He got to a point when he was going to hire someone,” Sobczak explained, “so it made more sense for me to be that person.” He has helped her grow in her work, and she said that by working with him they get to spend more time together. Sobczak also said that she values his feedback the most. “[Bobby] is my biggest advocate and the person who challenges me the most,” Sobczak notes, “He’d say the same thing about me…that sucks to hear ‘I think you could do better than that’…but that’s kinda what we’re there for…no one gets better if they’re not challenged to.” They approach pieces with their own individual styles. Sobczak explained that she is an impressionist by nature, while Bobby is more detailed. “We work well,” Sobczak notes, “when I will start something and he can come in and paint the minute details.”
• 25 •
Courtesy of Megan & Bobby Sobczak
Continued from page 25 “I just feel like there’s so much pressure on women to meet certain standards and expectations,” Sobczak said, “I want them to come here and not worry about where they’re measuring up.” Classes are $35 each, and Sobczak provides the canvases and paints. Class participants are invited to bring their own drinks, attend a three-hour class, and take home their paintings after the session. On her Facebook page, “Design Farm Wine and Painting Classes,” people can sign up for and choose the classes they want to attend. Sobczak comes up with different themes for each class, such as winter landscapes and contemporary/abstract. When the Sobczaks purchased their home four years ago, they were not thinking of its artistic possibilities. “I knew I wanted an old home,” Sobczak explained, “[Bobby] wanted a big chunk of land…[this was] the first piece of land the realtor showed us and I knew.”
The barn, located behind their house, was built in 1889. With it came a great deal of barn wood and old pallets they could repurpose and restore for their various projects. The Sobczaks also saw its potential as a venue for weddings and other special events related to their art, so they decided to work toward getting commercially zoned. They have recently been approved for commercial zoning, but their work is not done. They are still in the process of fully restoring the barn, but their motivation to continue the process comes from their community. After being denied a permit for their barn in December 2016, the couple petitioned, got neighboring farmers’ signatures, and recognized that their county had a need for an artistic outlet for community members. “We’re not okay with no,” Sobczak said, “We’re going to do everything we possibly can because this needs to happen.” In the meantime, the Sobczaks remain busy with their many projects. The two create murals and custom paintings as
• 26 •
commissioned, both for businesses and individual clients. But their main projects involve bar designs and concepts. “[Our work] is from concept to completion,” Sobczak explained, “We come up with themes and ideas for the spot and space, and execute it, including paintings and [designs]. Which is mostly DIY, because you want something original.” Their designs follow a process that involves several steps. “When I’m going to design something,” Sobczak said, “I look at what kind of feel they want in the space.” Sobczak explained that she looks online for pictures to put imagery behind the theme. She also picks two or three color pallets for the person commissioning them to choose which one they like best. Sobczak encourages the commissioners to look up a few pictures of what they have seen that they might like to incorporate into the space. “A picture truly is worth a thousand words… probably worth way more than that,” Sobczak said. Recently, the Sobczaks designed the Grin’n Goose bar in Cedar Rapids. It started as a fancier food and wine bar, and is now more like an American sports bar. Sobczak explained that it was one of their more interesting and memorable projects, and that she enjoyed seeing the space completely transition into a brand new vibe. “We got to have full creative freedom,” Sobczak said, “to design it from concept to completion…we got to kind of go nuts on it.” Sobczak noted that their business has grown organically and fluidly, which has provided them with more options in their creativity. Right now their focus is on big facilities and bars and restaurants, but the Sobczaks want to continue to grow and expand their business. Sobczak explained that once they get their commercial license, they will be able to work toward having even more options for their spaces. Already, Sobczak is thinking about future plans.
“
My son only has art once every other week, [and] I truly feel there are kids out there who need more art than that. - Megan Sobczak
”
Top left: women working on their paintings during a class, Bottom middle: view of the stairs leading to the main area of the design barn (courtesy of Megan & Bobby Sobczak)
• 27 •
Top: logo outside Grin’n Goose Restaurant & Bar, Bottom left: bar design, Bottom right: mural along the wall inside the restaurant (Courtesy of Megan & Bobby Sobczak)
Continued from page 27 This summer, she hopes to offer more art classes geared toward children, and even have summer art camps for them to explore various aspects of art such as sculpting, drawing, and painting. Sobczak enjoys raising the frequency of arts, so that people can see what art can do for space and the community. She wants to provide people with more opportunities to engage in creativity, notably for children. “My son only has art once every other week,” Sobczak explained, “I truly feel there are kids out there who need more art than that.” She wants to be able to show children and adults a way to deal with how hard life can be, and feels that art - whatever it means to people - is a valuable tool for that purpose. While Sobczak loves what she does, making art a career has its challenges. One such challenge is trying to express creativity to someone who may not easily understand it. “It’s hard to explain something that’s creative in tangible left-brain terms that other people understand,” Sobczak explained, “Translating art and design is a challenge because you can see it in your head but to get [others] to see it is something you have to work on.” It is not easy to make a living as an artist, especially because there are a lot of places that sell decor and design features at more affordable prices. And, it takes less time to purchase an item than it does to do it yourself. It can be hard to express to people the value of handmade art. One of her biggest challenges is deciding how much to charge for paintings. “I am so right brain creative side,” Sobczak explained, “that the finances and how much to charge people [are challenging]…if I could, I’d do it for free.” But Sobczak sees the value in creating something unique, though it can be expensive. “If anybody can have that painting it’s not as special,” she said.
Top right: corner inside the design barn, Bottom right: paintings inside the design studio Courtesy of Carli Galligan
Continued from page 29 Looking to the future, Sobczak wants to maintain variation in her work. “I like the difference in it all,” she explained, “I don’t think that I could do just bar redesigns or just home murals…the fact that we offer a bunch of different things helps keep things exciting.” Sobczak hopes to eventually be able to offer yearround affordable art classes in all different areas of art for all generations of people. She and her husband plan to continue restoration of the barn to turn it into a space that could be used for weddings and other special events, while still maintaining its charm. In her classes, Sobczak encourages others to explore art and to not be afraid of making mistakes. She also offers advice to those seeking to make art their career. “The best thing you can do if you want to make art into a living is to be fluid in what you want to do,” Sobczak explained. “Never quit challenging yourself as an artist — technically, and with what you’re passionate about.” She also expressed the importance of having someone to bounce ideas off of and to give honest feedback. Working alongside her husband has been something Sobczak enjoys, and she explained that they encourage each other to grow in their work. “It’s really cool to be able to create for a living,” she added, “[it is] great to build our dream, and to be able to use our talents and what we bring to the table to benefit us and our family and community.” In her own work, Sobczak values being able to create pieces that are special and unique while staying true to herself and her passions. In this way she hopes to continue to evolve and improve her artistry. It is easy to make something that looks just like everything else, but that is not what Sobczak wants. “Being true to who you are,” Sobczak said, “and what you want on a canvas is what art is about.”
Top left: view of the bar in the design barn, Bottom right: framed paintings along the staircase in the barn Courtesy of Carli Galligan
• 30 •
“Being true to who you are and what you want on a canvas is what art is about.” - Megan Sobczak
Painting by Megan Sobczak, photo courtesy of Carli Galligan
• 31 •
minimalistic experimental co m pl em en ta ry contrast emboesscede masterpi reimagined ev ol vi ng highlight hue saturation brushstroke cr af ts m an sh ip s p o n g e s ti p p le rou s t r ogkhe rseut bo ju c h p i g m e n t t ect inge
e h T ing h s i n . fi t o u c h paintingpalletsbrushbox swatchshiplapshiplapDIY remodelfinishcolorsstyle texturecreativityblueprint originalrepurposedrustic moderntraditional update repairssamples subdued design warm frame theme shades layers subtle fresh walls boards artistic timeless cooltint chicbold fix dry fancy art • 32 •
THOUGHTS & TIPS
from
TIP-TOP DESIGNERS “I appreciate history but you have to bring your own experience into your rooms.” — Istvan Francer
“You don’t need to follow a specific set of rules with your own home. Do what speaks to you and be unapologetic about it. I always feel most comfortable in a house I can tell is well-loved.” – Joanna Gaines
“Hang curtains. They make a room seem finished. Think of them as the lipstick of decorating.” – Peter Dunham
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris
“Pinches of color keep a room feeling youthful and engaging.” — Christina Murphy
“The details are not the details. They make the design.” – Charles Eames
Images: (Top left) https://magnoliamarket.com/fall-fashion-tips/ • (Bottom left) http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/2742-a-trio-of-special-events-add-extra-spark-to-aadla-spring-show-nyc (Top right) http://www.collectista.com/peter-dunham-hollywood-home/ • (Bottom right) http://electronicink.com/rethink-means-innovate/
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t e g s ’ t Le fty! a r C
Hand-painted jars & more by Carli G. Designs