The Golden Gate Bridge is 35 minutes from my house.  Despite its close proximity, our family only tours the City by the Bay about four or five times a year.  Yesterday was one of those days. 

There is a quote commonly attributed to Mark Twain where he said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”  In truth, Twain never actually said this, but that doesn’t make the context false.  In summer, San Francisco is always foggy and chilly, but during yesterday’s ‘Sunday in the City’, we got lucky with perfect sunny and clear weather. 

Take a tour with me of some favorite spots, gorgeous shops, and amazing architecture. 

Our first stop was a look at the vista up in the Marin Headlands.  This view is the definition of breathtaking.  You can see the entire skyline of downtown San Francisco.  Sailboats and cargo ships drift in and out under the Golden Gate Bridge, and seagulls soar all around, much to the delight of the children. 

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It’s my belief that ordinary objects can transform into something quite glamorous with some thoughtful accessories.  So why not give your flowers a bit of glitz as well?  Your blooms work hard to give you a show, so give them the gift of their own jewelry.  Glass marble jewelry, that is.

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I had an old wooden frame that was in good condition, but the glass had broken years ago, and I wasn’t crazy about the gold finish.  Rather than replacing the glass, I used it to make a jewelry holder.  You’ve seen these done before, put together with an old frame and some screen or chicken wire.  I spied a pretty one at an Antique Fair last month so I was inspired to make one of my own, but I wanted it to be backed by pretty fabric.

How to Make a Recycled Frame Jewelry Holder:

Supplies:

1. Recycled picture frame
2. Fabric of choice
3. Spray paint
4. Screen, chicken wire, or ‘hardware fabric’ from your local home improvement store
5. Wire cutters
6. Box cutters or craft knife
7. Foam board
8. Hot glue gun
9. Staple gun
10. Hooks (optional) for screwing into wood frame

Trim your wire mesh with wire cutters to fit inside your recycled frame.

Trim your foam to the exact internal measurements of your frame.  You can use the cardboard that often comes with a frame, but since I didn’t have any, I used foam board, available at any craft store.

If you don’t like the color of your frame, then spray paint your frame in the color of your choice.  I chose a Rosewood tint by Rustoleum.  You can also spray paint your wire mesh for a cohesive look, if you don’t like the rustic quality of the metal.   I also spray painted the little hooks I used to screw into my frame for additional jewelry display so it would all be the same color.

While your spray paint dries, staple your fabric to your foam.

Once your paint is dry, use your hot glue to secure your wire mesh to the inside of your frame.  Then use more hot glue to secure your fabric covered foam to the backside of your picture frame.

 (optional):  If you’re using a wooden frame, you can screw your hooks into the frame for added display.

Display your jewelry holder anywhere you please.

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