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Connecting to Happy Places in Your Past: Subway Art

by | Nov 8, 2010 | Decorating Inspiration

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Connecting to Happy Places in Your Past: Subway Art

Our family moved away from our hometown of Portland Oregon almost two years ago now. I can’t believe it has been that long. While we do enjoy where we are in Washington, we can’t help but feel a little homesick for what was familiar to us for all those years. When I saw this GORGEOUS gallery wrapped canvas by Red Letter Words, I knew I had to have one (it is found here on her website).

In our family, places like NW 23rd, Powells, Mt. Hood, Haystack Rock and the West Hills are words that we miss saying on a regular basis! Each of those places brings up a picture in our minds of a place we lived for most of our lives.

I want to be SURROUNDED by GOOD memories in our home. Subway art is a great way to give your family subliminal happy thoughts! You just cannot get that from a random piece of artwork!

Connecting to Happy Places in Your Past: Subway Art

We put our Portland canvas in the main hall between our kitchen and entry. I wanted it to be at the end of a hallway where we would be able to see the words regularly.  We pass through this hall many times a day. Each time I see those words on the canvas  it reminds me of places I’ve loved and special thoughts of days gone by. Suddenly my life doesn’t feel so disconnected, those places are still a part of who we are as a family.

Good times, good memories.

I love subway art with words from the past, uplifting thoughts, positive words or meaningful verses.

Connecting to Happy Places in Your Past: Subway Art

GREAT news! My blog partner, Red Letter Words, is offering you ALL a 15% discount! I love things where everyone wins. If you want something from Red Letter Words for yourself, Christmas or for a gift, now is the time to use your discount code!

Details of discount:

15% off through Friday (not valid on custom prints or print of the month)
coupon code INRM15

My daughter and I made a Polyvore that is going to be featured on Red Letter Words blog! We love playing with Polyvore!!

By the way, I was so excited to meet Dee from Red Letter Words while I was at The Relevant Conference. Now I know why her art is so special…not only is it lovely and meaningful, it comes from a woman who has a beautiful heart.

Let’s discuss, I’m curious what YOUR happy words would be!

______________

The Inspired Room posts are sponsored
this week by Red Letter Words!

Connecting to Happy Places in Your Past: Subway Art

29 Comments

  1. SimplyLKJ

    Love that! I grew up for a short time on Long Island, NY. I can think of several words that instantly bring back memories of that time and place.

    Reply
  2. Lori

    These are the words that would be on my canvas:
    Willow Bend
    Montgomery
    FortBluff
    St.Joseph
    Islamorada
    Thank you so much for your inspiration to embrace meaning in our daily lives.

    Reply
  3. Becky K.

    A very special piece for your home, indeed.
    So hard to believe your move was nearly two years ago!
    Wow! Time does fly!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      I can hardly believe it either. It has been so busy it is all kind of a blur :-)

      Reply
  4. Marisa

    I love this. Of course, it helps that I love all those places, too. :) We’ve been planning to do something similar with the names and location coordinates of all the places we’ve lived. We’re former military, so we’ve moved several times.

    Reply
  5. jen

    It is beautiful! I love subway art for it’s graphic look and simplicity. I love the light background on yours — so beautiful!

    xox
    jen

    Reply
  6. Michelle

    Oh I love subway art. I’d love to list city and street names of some of the special vacations my hubby and I have taken together. Such a cute idea! I think one of these is going on my Christmas list…. :)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Love that idea!

      Reply
  7. Kim-todays creative blog

    That is GREAT! Now if I ever do visit you, and you find it missing…….because you know……..it would work in my home too. :) Love all those places……..even lived off Hawthorne for a bit.

    Reply
  8. Karen

    Hi Melissa,

    I love the way the subway signs look and I especially love the idea of ordering one with your own specific meaning—I’ll have to give this some thought.
    Karen

    Reply
  9. teresa

    Mine would be ….Conner, Payton, Anna, Carlee, Preston, Nicholas, Audrey…..all my grandchildren =)

    Reply
  10. Jen

    I think mine would be names of my loved ones, rather than places. We have ALL moved so much – both my husband and I as children, and then our own family in recent years.

    I also want one that says this: “God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for tears, and light for the way.” We were on vacation recently and I saw a canvas in a very similar style which said this, and it really strikes home with our family right now.

    Reply
  11. Fiona's Mosaic

    So many of your words were mine too Melissa!! But I would have to add:

    Brigadoon Ranch
    The Cottage
    Wine Country
    Newberg
    Chehalem Mountain
    Mac
    Chapters
    The Brey House
    Lincoln City

    What a sweet life!!

    Reply
  12. Arlene

    Great place for this piece of art, love it!

    Reply
  13. Oregon Sunshine

    We moved from the Portland area just 5 months ago and miss it horribly as well. I might just have to get this same piece of art for my husband! What a great idea for an unexpected present! Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Jane

    Love this idea! We moved away from Gig Harbor, WA and are SO homesick. I love your “Northwest blog” and we used to vacation in Portland and Bend. I’m going to have to spend some time thinking of special memory words so I can surprise my family with a plaque at Christmas.

    Reply
  15. Nikki

    I love this! I would have way too many places on mine, but I have a girlfriend who just moved from Portland to Wisconsin and misses it dearly. What a great gift this would be!

    Reply
  16. Amanda H.

    I LOVE this idea! I really like the look of subway art, but I couldn’t ever find a piece that “spoke” to me. My husband is in the military and we have moved several times (including to Lacey, WA) so I would put cities and street names of places we have lived on ours. I’m so excited to do this and surprise my Hubby!

    Reply
  17. Mary Joy

    I love that! I would list the names of some of our favorite stops on road trips we have taken. I love word art. Its so great! Thanks for sharing…and I love getting a peek into your beautiful home. Always makes me smile!

    Blessings to you and your family, Melissa!

    Mary Joy

    Reply
  18. LuxuriousLife

    What a lovely way to make art personal!!

    Reply
  19. Kelly

    Art is so personal, and the art you choose should be a reflection of who you are and what you love :-)

    I really like your subway sign – although to be honest, I don’t have good subway memories! So my subway sign would include the names of places I’ve been and loved: Bruges, Luxembourg, PEI, Nova Scotia….

    Keep enjoying your good times & good memories :-)

    Kelly

    Reply
  20. Cyndi Spivey

    You’re right Melissa, Dee is so sweet! Now that I’ve met her it makes me want her art even more.
    Let’s see I’m thinking….
    Coffee
    Anything Chocolate
    Warm Apple Pie
    Ok I’m making myself hungry!
    Blessings,
    Cyndi

    Reply
  21. Chatelaine

    I do love her work. And I have one of her pieces, a London subway board.

    Reply
  22. amy in peru

    oh how I do whine sometimes missing Portland so. but only because it is such a neat place on the planet, and is home to all our beloved family! :)

    Some days Peru certainly does feel a long way from the Pacific NW…

    it’s fun to know that you love it too!

    Reply
  23. amy in peru

    oh and hawthorne?! did you really have to?

    aaawwwww….

    Reply
  24. bridget {bake at 350}

    Oh, I love it!!! My husband & I met and married in Dallas, so I think I would have one made with words that remind us of there. This is such a great idea! Thanks, Melissa!

    Reply
  25. TidyMom

    Oh I LOVE the idea of using different places you lived!! We moved SO many times the fist several years of our marriage…all in St. Louis, but different streets and towns……..what fun it would be to have them all listed on a sign!! Lets see if I can remember some

    Virginia
    Michigan
    Alabama
    St. Louis
    Fenton
    Sparrow Point Lane
    Green Jade Estates
    Big Bend
    Downhill Dr.

    Reply
  26. Angie

    I love this Melissa! So pretty and the perfect addition to that spot. :)

    Reply
  27. Widge

    love this work

    Reply

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