One of the challenges I am facing in the wake of my recent move is to balance my desire for aesthetically pleasing surroundings with my concern for the environment. I don’t want to go out and buy a lot of new stuff just to decorate my space, but I want my house to look like a home.

One of my big “needs” at the house, decoratively speaking, is artwork. This place has a lot more wall space so the artwork I had at the old place wasn’t really enough here. I’m trying to come up with secondhand and handmade solutions instead of going out and buying all new artwork. Here is what I have found so far.

I found this in the basement and I love it. My mom says it is the only needlework project she has ever finished. I believe it is older than I am.

I found this black and white drawing of a tree at a thrift shop for $10. It really struck me. I already had the grillwork piece and the gargoyles on the desk were in the basement. Incidentally, the desk originally came from a neighbor’s garage sale when I was about 8 years old. It was school bus yellow and hideous, but a little black paint cleaned it right up. I need to find some lovely old books for the gargoyles to hold up.

My grandma bought these from a street artist in Paris in the 1960s. These are some of those fabulous pieces that have a story behind them. In the early 60s, my grandma and grandpa decided to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. Back then traveling by plane was a big deal (at least to them) and my grandma was nervous, so she had a couple of White Russians to calm her nerves, and a little more alcohol on the flight. She got to Paris feeling pretty tipsy and immediately went to the hotel to have dinner, with wine, of course. Anyway, to make a long story short the wine flowed freely the whole trip and she doesn’t even remember how she got these paintings. This is especially funny to me, as I don’t recall ever seeing my grandma have more than half a glass of wine with a holiday dinner. I eventually plan to reframe these. I’m not really into the cheap diploma-style frames they are in.

First of all, please ignore the wall patching behind the pictures. We are planning to paint this room, but it hasn’t made it to the top of the to-do list yet. This dresser and chair belonged to my grandma. The larger painting came from my church’s garage sale and cost $1. I bought the smaller pictures from a street artist in Quebec City when I was in middle school. The frames originally belonged to one of my grandparents.

I found these trays at the citywide garage sale last summer for $6. I love them. I also love my dining room table, which I got for $20 at a garage sale in Pasadena. It’s sturdy, kid friendly and simple.

Finally I am planning on making three pieces of needlework for the walls.

I am not finished with it yet, but I think this peacock embroidery piece is going to be stunning in my kitchen. It needs a fantastic frame, so I am keeping my eyes peeled for one. I have a lot of faith that the right frame will find its way to me if I look hard enough.

My mom started this crewelwork wall hanging when she was pregnant with me thirty years ago. I am determined to finish it. Eventually it will grace my entryway, just above the shoe bench. I love the idea of having a thirty-year mother-daughter embroidery project.

Finally, I need a large piece of art to go above the library table in the living room. I have a huge wood frame, but nothing to put in it. My current plan is to buy some canvas and freehand embroider a large, swirly, whimsical tree in red thread. It will be fast and easy, but add a lot of drama and interest for very little money.