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Just for Mom

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Ampeater 
#1 ·
Repurposed Window as Art

Wood Sky Paint Art Working animal


My mom has always loved living in the country (all her life) but was never really big on raising cattle herself. However, she still likes viewing cows out of the kitchen window whenever she gets the chance. Unfortunately, the house she lives in now doesn't have a kitchen window so she came up with this great idea one day and asked me for some help.

She knew a rancher, friend of hers, was tearing down an old house and asked him if she could have a few of the old windows. He said that he didn't mind but the windows were in pretty bad shape and brought them by anyway. She called me and told me her idea was to take a photograph of some cows out in a pasture and mount it behind the glass, then hang the window above the sink in the kitchen so she could look out at her pasture full of cows each time she did the dishes. She already had some photos but they were pretty old and the "composition" wasn't right, in my humble artistic opinion. I grabbed my digital Fuji S1800 and hiked out into the nearest cow pasture I could find. After chasing cows(and being chased) for a couple of hours, I had several hundred pictures to choose from so I went home and emailed her the proofs.

After narrowing the pics down to the final choice, I put it on a flash drive and took it to Office Depot where they enlarged it for me. While I was waiting, I purchased some foam backer board and mounting spray then it was back home to pick up the window and put everything together.

Well the farmer was correct, the window was in pretty bad shape!!! I had to take several nylon brushes and carefully remove as much dirt and bug crap as I could without removing any of the paint so it would keep that certain patina she was looking for. I had to apply a very small amount of white caulk to keep the window from falling out and I then brushed the entire window with a thin coat of white glue to seal on the dirt and old paint chips. After everything was dry, I mounted the picture to the foam board and mounted that to the back of the window.

When I started this project for my mom, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it ended up being exactly what she wanted!!! Please, Tell me what you think!!!!
 

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#2 ·
Repurposed Window as Art

Wood Sky Paint Art Working animal


My mom has always loved living in the country (all her life) but was never really big on raising cattle herself. However, she still likes viewing cows out of the kitchen window whenever she gets the chance. Unfortunately, the house she lives in now doesn't have a kitchen window so she came up with this great idea one day and asked me for some help.

She knew a rancher, friend of hers, was tearing down an old house and asked him if she could have a few of the old windows. He said that he didn't mind but the windows were in pretty bad shape and brought them by anyway. She called me and told me her idea was to take a photograph of some cows out in a pasture and mount it behind the glass, then hang the window above the sink in the kitchen so she could look out at her pasture full of cows each time she did the dishes. She already had some photos but they were pretty old and the "composition" wasn't right, in my humble artistic opinion. I grabbed my digital Fuji S1800 and hiked out into the nearest cow pasture I could find. After chasing cows(and being chased) for a couple of hours, I had several hundred pictures to choose from so I went home and emailed her the proofs.

After narrowing the pics down to the final choice, I put it on a flash drive and took it to Office Depot where they enlarged it for me. While I was waiting, I purchased some foam backer board and mounting spray then it was back home to pick up the window and put everything together.

Well the farmer was correct, the window was in pretty bad shape!!! I had to take several nylon brushes and carefully remove as much dirt and bug crap as I could without removing any of the paint so it would keep that certain patina she was looking for. I had to apply a very small amount of white caulk to keep the window from falling out and I then brushed the entire window with a thin coat of white glue to seal on the dirt and old paint chips. After everything was dry, I mounted the picture to the foam board and mounted that to the back of the window.

When I started this project for my mom, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it ended up being exactly what she wanted!!! Please, Tell me what you think!!!!
You did real good. It's obvious that you love your MOM very much and did your best for her. She loves the picture window, right?
 

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#3 ·
Repurposed Window as Art

Wood Sky Paint Art Working animal


My mom has always loved living in the country (all her life) but was never really big on raising cattle herself. However, she still likes viewing cows out of the kitchen window whenever she gets the chance. Unfortunately, the house she lives in now doesn't have a kitchen window so she came up with this great idea one day and asked me for some help.

She knew a rancher, friend of hers, was tearing down an old house and asked him if she could have a few of the old windows. He said that he didn't mind but the windows were in pretty bad shape and brought them by anyway. She called me and told me her idea was to take a photograph of some cows out in a pasture and mount it behind the glass, then hang the window above the sink in the kitchen so she could look out at her pasture full of cows each time she did the dishes. She already had some photos but they were pretty old and the "composition" wasn't right, in my humble artistic opinion. I grabbed my digital Fuji S1800 and hiked out into the nearest cow pasture I could find. After chasing cows(and being chased) for a couple of hours, I had several hundred pictures to choose from so I went home and emailed her the proofs.

After narrowing the pics down to the final choice, I put it on a flash drive and took it to Office Depot where they enlarged it for me. While I was waiting, I purchased some foam backer board and mounting spray then it was back home to pick up the window and put everything together.

Well the farmer was correct, the window was in pretty bad shape!!! I had to take several nylon brushes and carefully remove as much dirt and bug crap as I could without removing any of the paint so it would keep that certain patina she was looking for. I had to apply a very small amount of white caulk to keep the window from falling out and I then brushed the entire window with a thin coat of white glue to seal on the dirt and old paint chips. After everything was dry, I mounted the picture to the foam board and mounted that to the back of the window.

When I started this project for my mom, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it ended up being exactly what she wanted!!! Please, Tell me what you think!!!!
This is a good alternative to the real thing! I like it!
 

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#4 ·
Repurposed Window as Art

Wood Sky Paint Art Working animal


My mom has always loved living in the country (all her life) but was never really big on raising cattle herself. However, she still likes viewing cows out of the kitchen window whenever she gets the chance. Unfortunately, the house she lives in now doesn't have a kitchen window so she came up with this great idea one day and asked me for some help.

She knew a rancher, friend of hers, was tearing down an old house and asked him if she could have a few of the old windows. He said that he didn't mind but the windows were in pretty bad shape and brought them by anyway. She called me and told me her idea was to take a photograph of some cows out in a pasture and mount it behind the glass, then hang the window above the sink in the kitchen so she could look out at her pasture full of cows each time she did the dishes. She already had some photos but they were pretty old and the "composition" wasn't right, in my humble artistic opinion. I grabbed my digital Fuji S1800 and hiked out into the nearest cow pasture I could find. After chasing cows(and being chased) for a couple of hours, I had several hundred pictures to choose from so I went home and emailed her the proofs.

After narrowing the pics down to the final choice, I put it on a flash drive and took it to Office Depot where they enlarged it for me. While I was waiting, I purchased some foam backer board and mounting spray then it was back home to pick up the window and put everything together.

Well the farmer was correct, the window was in pretty bad shape!!! I had to take several nylon brushes and carefully remove as much dirt and bug crap as I could without removing any of the paint so it would keep that certain patina she was looking for. I had to apply a very small amount of white caulk to keep the window from falling out and I then brushed the entire window with a thin coat of white glue to seal on the dirt and old paint chips. After everything was dry, I mounted the picture to the foam board and mounted that to the back of the window.

When I started this project for my mom, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it ended up being exactly what she wanted!!! Please, Tell me what you think!!!!
She really loves it!!! Today she told me that she wants me to make another version with one of the left over windows. The new one will have a photo of my Grandmother wearing her kitchen apron (which she was NEVER without) and will incorporate the actual apron, somehow. Not sure how I'm going to pull that off, yet. Mom still has to find the photo she likes so I don't have to do too much photoshop work!!!

If I end up making this for her, I'll be sure to include it in another blog but I don't think it will be any time soon. I just started designing a china cabinet for Mom and that build is going to take quite awhile. Thanks for all the comments!!!!!
 

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#5 ·
Repurposed Window as Art

Wood Sky Paint Art Working animal


My mom has always loved living in the country (all her life) but was never really big on raising cattle herself. However, she still likes viewing cows out of the kitchen window whenever she gets the chance. Unfortunately, the house she lives in now doesn't have a kitchen window so she came up with this great idea one day and asked me for some help.

She knew a rancher, friend of hers, was tearing down an old house and asked him if she could have a few of the old windows. He said that he didn't mind but the windows were in pretty bad shape and brought them by anyway. She called me and told me her idea was to take a photograph of some cows out in a pasture and mount it behind the glass, then hang the window above the sink in the kitchen so she could look out at her pasture full of cows each time she did the dishes. She already had some photos but they were pretty old and the "composition" wasn't right, in my humble artistic opinion. I grabbed my digital Fuji S1800 and hiked out into the nearest cow pasture I could find. After chasing cows(and being chased) for a couple of hours, I had several hundred pictures to choose from so I went home and emailed her the proofs.

After narrowing the pics down to the final choice, I put it on a flash drive and took it to Office Depot where they enlarged it for me. While I was waiting, I purchased some foam backer board and mounting spray then it was back home to pick up the window and put everything together.

Well the farmer was correct, the window was in pretty bad shape!!! I had to take several nylon brushes and carefully remove as much dirt and bug crap as I could without removing any of the paint so it would keep that certain patina she was looking for. I had to apply a very small amount of white caulk to keep the window from falling out and I then brushed the entire window with a thin coat of white glue to seal on the dirt and old paint chips. After everything was dry, I mounted the picture to the foam board and mounted that to the back of the window.

When I started this project for my mom, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it ended up being exactly what she wanted!!! Please, Tell me what you think!!!!
That is so cool. What a great idea that your mother had. And a great implementation.
 

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