A Behind The Scenes Look At My DIY Projects

Welcome! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Today’s post is a little different than the usual DIY or craft project. I’m showing you some “behind the scenes” images of some blog posts of mine from creating to staging. I’ve joined up with 5 other brave souled bloggers; each showing you and me their take on what “behind the scenes” means to them. I’m super excited to see how everyone approaches it.

What I’ve felt since the beginning of this blog almost a year ago is that I never wanted to give the impression that everything is perfect and in it’s rightful place in my home. It is none of those and I’m not too sure I kept that frame of mind. Aiming for perfection can really take the fun out of things. I’m really happy and a bit relieved to show you some past projects and what things were going on outside of the cropped edges. What you didn’t see and I guess what I didn’t want to show.

The first picture you’ll see is of the final staged image. The following picture(s) will involve what I saw and what my thoughts are now or were at the time.

What you saw of the Recovered Chair Using A Skirt

Use A Skirt To Recover A Chair Seat

I saw this so I had to crop it out in my photo editing software.

Recovered_chair_Behind_the_Scenes_A_Messy_Cluttered_Peek_into_a_Mad_DIYers_Home ambientwares.com

What you saw of the Sewing Table Turned Beverage Station

Antique sewing machine table repurposed into beverage Station ~ Ambient Wares

I saw a dog that could care less what I was trying to do. Happens all the time and he’s definitely got me trained instead of the other way around.Sewing_table_beverage_station_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

I also saw extremely dirty siding that I didn’t bother cleaning. I debated and thought no one would notice it. Sewing_table_beverage_station_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Here’s what you saw of the Mid Century Record Holder I painted

Updated Metal MCM Record or Magazine Rack

And here’s all the junk cropped out.

Painted_vintage_mcm_record_holder_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Also, if you look closely, you’ll see the top image is more green than the one below it. That’s because I had to tweak it to look more like what the paint looked like. Sometimes certain colors just refuse to show up correctly. It’s also hard because each screen seems to render a different color.

Below, I moved the table over to another wall thinking I’d get a different look as far as lighting. Which I didn’t. You’ll notice the same color change. To me, on my monitors, the top image shows the color more in line with what it actually is.

Updated Metal MCM Record or Magazine Rack

Painted_vintage_mcm_record_holder_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

I had the hardest time staging the 2 bistro chairs. Sometimes, I just can’t see how something should look along with making it look natural. This is what you saw which still isn’t great.

Sleek "New" Bistro Chairs ~ ambientwares.com

Yeah, let’s just stick some weird things in between and it’ll be all good, right?

Recovered_bistro_chairs_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comRecovered_bistro_chairs_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Oh, I’m not done, let’s try a 3rd item. Anyone care to sit in front of a warm fire on 2 ice cream chairs? Oooh, me! Me! Cause that’s a heavy duty firewood holder.

Recovered_bistro_chairs_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

This is the final image you saw of the Refurbished Chair with Added Storage

Chair makeover with added storage to hold a book under the seat - ambientwares.com

This is what was all around it. This room holds our freezer, some plants, shoes, and there’s a 5 shelf bookcase holding ALL of the items we had down at our booth that we’ve since closed πŸ™

Chair_makeover_with_secret_compartment_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Chair_makeover_with_secret_compartment_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Our house is on the smaller side. In the image below, I’m in the dining room, looking into the living room. I set up the camera on the dining room table. Can you see the tripod and my red sweatered arm taking this pic in the big mirror? You get bonus points if you “spot” the stains on the carpet.Chair_makeover_with_secret_compartment_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Here’s the Foot Stool Turned Basket. This pothos plant makes a lot of appearances in recent days. I just love it because I’ve had it for years.

Repurposed handmade foot stool into a basket using thick rope - Use Rope to Turn a Foot Stool into a Basket - ambientwares.com

This is one of the many pictures I took. It’s pretty dark and not focused. I couldn’t crop it and still make it look good. I was too far away. I really just tend to move stuff around until one works. This goes back to me not being able to envision what would make it look natural.

Foot_Stool_Turned_Basket_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Here’s my simple painted mirror project. See, there’s the plant again.

Easy_DIY_Painted_Wooden_Framed_Mirror_ambientwares.comEasy_DIY_Painted_Wooden_Framed_Mirror_ambientwares.com

This “behind the scenes” photo was taken using my smart phone which is older and doesn’t take good photos at all if you can’t tell. It would be so much easier at times if I could just quickly snap a photo with my phone and post directly to social media but, it just wouldn’t look good or detailed at all. No amount of tweaking the settings is going to make it look better.

Painted_wood_mirror_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

This is the recent Spring basket I made. I spy a pothos!

Crafty_Spring_Wreath_From_A_Basket_Put_A_Bird_On_It_ambientwares.com

We have a craft/office space in our attic to work in as you saw in some of the earlier pictures but, I sometimes work at the dining room table until I need a change of scenery and move back upstairs.

So, this is what it looked like when I was gluing and arranging the basket.

Spring_vintage_styled_basket_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

This is me moving things to the table as I was trying to stage the basket on the shelves.Spring_vintage_styled_basket_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

I figure I’ll just show you our entire house. Yikes. Lucky for you it isn’t huge πŸ˜‰ I didn’t worry about lighting and you’ll see clutter and messes. I’ve said it before, it’s a balancing act between getting my creativity out and maintaining an uncluttered, non messy space. Both of which effect my mood. I believe the answer is having a very, very large garage sale this year. The attic is the messiest since we do spend most of our time here.

Attic_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Attic_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Attic_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comBedroom_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comLiving_Room_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comDining_room_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comKitchen_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comBathroom_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Mudroom_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.comBasement_Behind_the_Scenes_The_Reality_of_a_DIYers_process_and_home ambientwares.com

Well, I don’t know if this was interesting, fun, boring or just disturbing. I love my home but, it’s nothing fancy. Is a behind the scenes look something you would like to see more of in bloggers’ posts or do you just want to get to the final pictures?

Now, you and I should really head on over to all the blog hop participants. I’m just as curious as you!

Behind the Scenes ~ Navage PatchBehind the Scenes ~ Interior FrugalistaBehind the Scenes ~ All That JasBehind The Scenes - The Boondocks BlogBehind the Scenes ~ A Crafty Mix

Click image below to PIN!

Behind The Scenes of 6 International Blogs!

33 thoughts on “A Behind The Scenes Look At My DIY Projects

  1. Thanks for keeping it real! Loved the behind the scenes. I can totally relate! (that beverage cart is awesome!)

    1. Thank you so much, Heidi! I couldn’t hide it any longer πŸ˜‰

  2. I absolutely love this post! Makes me feel a bit more “normal.” I’m trying desperately to learn about photography in order to take better photos, as I’m really not very good at the moment. The things you have to go through to get a good picture! Love all the behind the scenes. Thanks for being brave enough to share!

    1. I’m so happy you like it, Amy! I take sooo many pictures for each post it’s insane πŸ˜€ I’m constantly learning what works and what doesn’t. I was definitely nervous at the start and then it just faded away and I was all in!

  3. Marjan Hoebeke-Pfaff says:

    Hello Angie,
    quite recently I came across a quote of Einstein’s: “Geniale Menschen sind selten ordentlich Ordentliche Menschen selten genial.” Meaning: “Ingenious people are rarely tidy. Tidy people rarely ingenious.”
    It did make me feel better. Hope it helps you too.
    Have a great day,
    Marjan
    P.S.: Thank you for this “behind the scenes” – it helps other bloggers get over their frustration and complexes!

    1. Yes, Marjan, it definitely makes me feel better and I need to put that quote somewhere to remind myself. Thank you so much for this πŸ˜€

  4. Love your post – reality – great idea.
    Joy

    1. Hi, Joy! Maybe I should give reality more of a shot, lol πŸ˜‰ Thank you

  5. So great to peek into a not perfectly styled home filled with lots of beautiful DiY’s!!! I find it can get pretty frustrating when you try to stage and life goes on around you but it’s also lot’s of fun!! My home is small as well, smaller than yours and rented and there’s no room for proper DiY-ing so I’m doing it everywhere, lol.

    1. Thank you, Katrin! I shouldn’t say my house is too small. What I should say is I have way too much stuff. What’s a creative person to do? LOL!

  6. debrashoppeno5 says:

    I so understand the feeling. Staging and photography is something I always struggle with. My dream is to have a huge warehouse. Ok back to reality, you really do good work and if I hadn’t read this post I would never have known you have the same problems I am trying to conquer.

    1. No worries, Debra, I have plenty of problems πŸ˜‰ and a warehouse sounds dreamy. Many thanks for the kind words and you know I love what you do too!

  7. We learn to love our mess, or at least tolerate it as well as ignore it. I like to think of it as an organized mess. I know where everything is at any moment, lol. I looked hard for your carpet stains, but couldn’t find any. No bonus points for me πŸ™

    1. Hmmm, I guess the carpet stains fall into the “I know where everything is at any moment” claim. I mean, I’ve been studying them for years now. LOL!! Thanks, Jas, I had a lot of fun!

  8. Staging is way the most difficult blogging thing for me as well. In my case it takes longer than writing a blog post, moving stuff around and not finding the perfect prep for it and turning the whole house a bigger chaos than before so I relate all you are talking about.
    That said, all your projects are amazing and I still remember that beverage cart!!

    1. Staging has proven to be a creative muscle I guess I have to keep workin’ on πŸ˜‰ Thanks, Pili!

  9. Angie, I can so relate to having a small footprint to work within (our home is small as well). I can also relate to using the same props in multiple shots. When you don’t have a lot of room to store them, you’ve got to recycle the props you’ve got. I would love to have that awesome attic space you have to create in!

    1. We are very lucky to have the attic space, Marie. We do tend to hit our heads the further out from the center we go but, totally worth it πŸ˜€

  10. Angie I felt so at home reading your post and looking at photos of your home. We could easily swap and we wouldn’t notice the difference. I tend to also use the same props over and over. After all we don’t have unending storage for lots of props (mine is on the smaller side also) and your plant is wonderful as a prop. I was very impressed with the chair with the storage that you shot in such a tight space. I really enjoyed doing this behind the scenes post and feel so much better now! πŸ™‚

    1. Isn’t it funny how comforting it is, Mary? I think there may have been a weight there that I didn’t even know about. I’m just now thinking I didn’t even share the garage…let’s just say it’s packed and I’m sure you’ll understand πŸ˜‰ I enjoyed it too and thank you!

  11. I feel your pain! I’m usually trying to get the half a dog each of mine sheds daily swept out of the way before I take photos! Staging photos is the hardest part of blogging!

    1. Oh my gosh! Dog hair is the absolute worst, Vanessa. It’s in everything and if it’s dry in the house and you’ve got some serious static going on, you’re doomed. Staging is by far the hardest thing for me. It would be awesome if I just had the perfect spot but, I’ll just continue to tote everything around until I “get it right” πŸ˜‰

  12. Now that’s a home I could live in Angie. I love it!!! It makes me feel so much more real and normal. It feels like a space where you can just come and plonk yourself down and chat about all that’s real and good in the world. I’m so glad you’re part of the blog hop, because not only are you a very cool person, your projects are awesome too – bad lighting and all. P.S. I still think the Alice in Wonderland chair is stunning and no-one should have to live without a photo bombing fur baby.

    1. Thank you so much, Michelle, for your kind words and amazing outlook on everything. Wouldn’t that be something if we could actually sit and chat? I’m honored that you asked me to share and it was really a relief to let it all out πŸ˜‰

  13. I can relate to using the same props in multiple shoots, especially plants/flowers (or in my case, dried hydrangeas). Thanks for the peek behind the curtain, Angie!

    1. Thanks, Greg! I had a fantastic time with this and I’d like to continue showing the not so pretty things in my future posts.

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