A Porthole to a New Silk Flower
World
Old Windows; New Silk Flower Ideas
Maybe you’ve seen them at silk flowersy  shops, craft shows, and flea markets…old wooden
window frames dressed up with country curtains, holiday
themes, or whimsical vines and beautiful blooms. Or, maybe
you’re new to the concept of salvaging what could, to
some, be considered trash. Either way, you’re in for a
treat.
A bare wall or a window with a less than desirable view can
both be admirable reasons for wishing to hang a faux window.
You can buy one that’s already decorated, but why, when you can
design one to fit your unique needs?
With patience and good luck, trolling garage sales, salvage
yards, flea markets, and newspaper classified ads can prove
fruitful when looking for an old wooden window frame. The
prettiest are the ones with four or six panes, and with all
cross sections intact. A friendly stop at a farm with older
outbuildings can’t hurt, either. And don’t forget those homes
where remodeling crews have camped out, removing the old and
replacing with new. It never hurts to ask. Many times, folks
are happy for someone to use what they would have disposed
of.
o If you like the look of glass in the window, try to find one
with the glass intact. But if you can’t, no worries. A glass
cutting shop can add panes for a reasonable price. If you
appreciate the texture of the wall behind the window frame,
then remove the glass.
o If the paint is peeling, use a heat gun to bubble the paint
and scrape it. This will leave the wood with a smooth surface
and tracts of white paint that will make for a weathered look.
You can also use a stripping compound to strip the paint to the
bare wood, and repaint. Hardware stores and home improvement
warehouses are full of fun paint kits to create crackle,
rusted, and textured looks.
o Next, attach two toothed hangers on the back of the top frame
of the window. Using two hangers, spaced so that the top frame
is divided into thirds, will keep the window from sliding off
center once it’s hung.
o Using u-shaped nails and a hammer, or a heavy staple gun,
attach the stems of silk flowers and vines to the frame. For a
natural look, imagine how the flowers might grow naturally.
Stems would be pointed upward (originating at the lowest
point), while vines would choose one main climbing point
(preferably one of the side frame pieces), and shoot runners to
adjoining cross sections. Cover only about one third of the
surface of the wood. You’ll still want it to look like a window
- not a wreath. Cutting most of the stems from silk flowers  and simply attaching the blooms is also a good
way to imbed a bit of color among a mass of greenery.
Before completing your silk flower project, hold the frame
upright, and place any additional nails or staples where
greenery or flowers droop toward the ground.
o If you’re covering an unsightly part of the wall or an
honest-to-goodness window, your work’s not finished yet.
o To cover a wall blemish (or safe door, electrical panel,
etc.), staple wallpaper to the back of the window frame that
matches that of the surrounding wall. Or, if your walls are
painted, or paneling, or brick, find a mural scene at a
wallpaper outlet and staple that to the back of the window
frame. You can even snap a photo of a scene that you’d like to
enjoy from your “window” and have a professional photographer
blow it up to the correct size for creating a “view.”
o To cover an existing window, the existing window must be
smaller than your faux window. First, staple the scene of your
choice onto the window frame’s back (or wallpaper, etc.) and
then staple a layer of black, opaque paper onto that (to
prevent light from filtering through your scene and giving away
your secret). If your decorating window frame just happens to
be the same size as your home’s window, some light filtering
through a scene might actually boost its Wow factor. The choice
is up to.
These faux window frame ideas are perfect for decorating an
interior apartment or condo, where windows are scarce. They’re
also great for making window conversions when you are renting,
and have no license to remodel. And most importantly, they are
spectacular vehicles for bringing the outside in, while using
silk flowers that are perfect models of those found in
nature.
Remember days when country air and wildflowers  were abundant, and places where a gaze outside
a window revealed a postcard-perfect view? Remember when
nature’s glory showed manmade objects who was boss? When
vines where left to there own devices and Mother Nature
created artwork worth celebrating? All of this can be
accomplished with an old treasure, nature-perfect silk
flowers, and an imagination as bright as yours.
by Leigh LaCava - May, 2009
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Source: http://www.wamu.com
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