INSIDE & OUT : Funky Frames
From flea-market finds to bed knobs and broomsticks, no scrap is left unturned for artist Laura VanLandingham’s picture frames and mirrors.
VanLandingham, who calls herself a third-generation flea-market junkie, crafts eclectic pieces from recycled junk or treasures, depending on your view.
A reformed jewelry designer and pack rat, VanLandingham scavenges for materials. She has searched through an old, flooded house on the Russian River and been known to explore friends’ backyards. People drop stuff off at her Manhattan Beach house.
“I love discovering weird and wonderful things to use in my designs,” says VanLandingham, 35, who began making frames about a year ago.
Each of her frames is numbered and has a distinct style.
The frames and mirrors ($55 to $90) are available at the Re-finery, 1294 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (714) 376-1688, or by calling (310) 439-8553.
On the Bell
Keep yourself in the ring of things with the Extend-A-Bell, an add-on portable doorbell to be used when you’re in remote parts of your home or yard.
Easily connected to an existing doorbell with tape, the Extend-A-Bell (about $30), manufactured by Michigan-based Dimango Products Corp., runs on D-cell alkaline batteries.
The doorbell features a 2 1/4-inch speaker and has an operating range of 300 feet.
The Extend-A-Bell is available at home centers throughout the county. For the nearest dealer, call (800) 346-2646.
Screen Play
Gridiron gurus can huddle up with their favorite football teams, using NFL-licensed computer screen savers.
Each screen saver ($20) has After Dark software and nearly 50 full-color screens--enough material to keep fans busy until the next round of playoff games.
There are scenes from winning games, a team scrapbook, the team’s current season schedule, statistics and trivia. Audio sound bites re-create the drama and excitement of an actual game in “Stadium Mania,” an animated scoreboard.