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DIY vintage inspired hanging parrot

I recently installed a curtain divider to separate my bedroom from my workspace. I have it pulled open most of the time, but there's one section behind my dresser that I'm keeping closed, almost like a makeshift half-wall. I wanted some kind of artwork to go on the new "wall" (I would die without clutter, guys!) so I decided to DIY a vintage-inspired piece to hang from my ceiling above the dresser.



Here's what you'll need if you want to make your own:

Resin hanging parrot sculpture
Garden hanging hooks
Cup hooks
Paint (I used Basics light portrait pink for the base)
Paintbrushes
Gold spray paint (I used Rust-Oleum Metallic pure gold)
Pliers
Painter's tape
Newspaper



I started off by painting over the parrot with my pink paint. It took two coats to fully cover the bird. Technically it seems like it would be easier to spray paint the whole thing gold, let it dry, and then paint the bird pink but the texture of the dried spray paint is kind of slippery and the paint doesn't adhere as well as it does if you do the pink coat first. That being said, it's almost impossible to tape off the little feet so you'll still have to paint those pink after you've spray painted the branch gold. It just takes like 3-4 coats of pink instead of 2.

After the bird is painted pink, use the newspaper and tape to cover up the bird, leaving the branch and metal ring uncovered. Measure how long you want your sculpture to hang from the ceiling and choose a corresponding garden hook. I hung mine using the 18" hook in the set. Take your garden hook and your parrot and hang them in a well ventilated area (I hung mine from a tree branch in my backyard) and spray them with the gold spray paint. Let dry for a few hours.

At this point you can embellish your parrot and paint in any details that were covered up by the spray paint. I added a darker pink to the beak and feathers, and painted in the feet which were left uncovered when I spray painted. I had originally thought of making it more colorful but I was really happy with the pink and gold combination and left it at that.

Remove the chain from the parrot, leaving only the one hook at the top. Screw your cup hook into the ceiling, and then use your painted garden hook to hang the parrot. The reason I went with garden hooks instead of hanging it directly from the chain that came with the parrot is that this way it will always hang straight. With the chain alone it was twisting around a lot (and often hanging backwards) but the hooks solve that issue. If you're hanging this in area where it doesn't necessarily need to face one direction, you can just use the chain.



I finished up with a coat of glossy lacquer to give it a glassy look, and that was it! If you're hanging it outside you definitely need a coat of sealant, but you can skip it if it'll be inside. I just thought it would look a little more vintage-y if it was really glossy instead of matte.

I'm so happy with how it came out! It was just what I needed to break up the curtains and add some kitschy interest to that section of my wall. And who would have ever thought it started out in life as a rainbow parrot on a black metal ring?! It's amazing what a little paint and patience can do :)

sick day

Hey, long time no see! I'm currently getting over a nasty cold, and I remembered this post from 2011 when I was SO determined to share five outfit posts per week (PER WEEK) that I took sick-day outfit pictures from my bed. My god, I can barely muster five outfit posts per year now.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to recreate the photo and I'm so happy with how it turned out! I'm wearing a wig that I picked up on Hollywood Blvd. when I was in California a couple weeks ago, and a vintage robe that I got on etsy a few years back. That 2011 outfit post has always been one of my favorites but, dare I say, I actually like this new one even better. I guess it just fits my current aesthetic more.

I know I'm always promising to do more posts and then disappearing for weeks (months?) but I really do intend to pick up the outfit posts again shortly :)

DIY-ish VHS tape purse

Last week I saw this purse on Forever 21. It was one of those things where something catches your eye and you get excited about it but then you look closely and realize it's not as awesome as you originally thought. I mean, the concept is AMAZING (especially for a rabid movie fan like me!) and the attention to detail is pretty great. I don't know if you can see it in my photos but the bag is embossed with "Be Kind Please Rewind" and "Open this side only" along the top of the purse.

Unfortunately, it says "VHS and Chill" on the label *vomit*

It also has a cheap chain for a strap (actually not the one pictured here. I threw mine in the garbage as soon as I got it -- I hated it THAT MUCH lol -- and just grabbed this one from another bag in order to take the photos.) which is acceptable if I'm just hanging something up in my room for storage or decor but if I want to actually use it and wear it, I never wear bags with chain straps.



Anyway. So I obviously bought the bag anyway. And I thought if anyone out there is as obsessed with novelty bags (esp. movie themed ones!!) as I am, and wants to be able to wear this one without Forever 21's tacky slogan, I better share what I did to my bag :)

You'll need:

This VHS bag from Forever 21
A black shoulder strap (I got mine from amazon here)
Vinyl sticker paper
An inkjet printer
My VHS label template* (download here)

*If you want to make this more personalized, you can take a photo or scan a label from your own VHS collection and print it on the vinyl sticker paper. Just make sure it's sized to approximately 3 1/4" x 2 1/8" to fit over the F21 label.




I scanned the label from one of my old VHS tapes and then in photoshop I wrote in the titles of my favorite movies. I alternated pen styles so it would look like I had recorded on the tape on different days, and I crossed out one title like I had recorded over it. If you don't have photoshop, you can just print out my label template and then write directly on the label in sharpie.

Attach your strap, cut out the label (I did slightly rounded corners when I cut it out to mimic an old VHS label) and attach the label to the bag. Since it's vinyl it'll be more weather resistant than a regular paper label and it should hold up to wear-and-tear if you use the bag.

I'm so excited about this bag now! I can't wait to wear it to the movies!