WHAT'S IN YOUR BAG? Andrea's Hooks And Eyes

Q: Are those fabric butterflies in your bag? 

A: No, the butterflies are from home. I had to bring them along to buy the perfect sized hooks. I'm trying to build a mobile for outside my office window.

Q: You must not work downtown.

A: Not at all. I have a small office in a garden behind my house. I'm a landscape architect, so I'm always looking for ways to enhance the house and yard.

Q: What a fun idea! What made you decide to take on a project like this?

A: I was on vacation in northern California and saw a butterfly mobile hanging in a store. I fell madly in love with it, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I thought, I can make this!

Q: How do you plan to do this project?

A: I'm going to attach the butterflies to these hooks to create a chain starting at the bottom, then moving my way up. Someone told me never start from the top. It's important to get the right balance, or else it looks uneven and lopsided and then doesn't hang right. I think that's the trick, keeping all of these different sized butterflies balanced and untangled.

Q: What tools do you need?

A: Hooks, eyes, and wire. Also the wooden ring that they'll hang from.

Q: Who do you think will end up helping you with the project?

A: Probably my husband.

Q: Does he have any experience with mobiles?

A: He will be by later today.

Q: What are the basic instructions?

A: Clear off a table with a lot of space. You have to lay out all the materials and start attaching the butterflies from the bottom. Make sure to balance the small and large objects, so it doesn't look too heavy or too sparse in one spot. You also have to make sure to evenly space what you're attaching, so it doesn't look clumped together.

Q: What do you think the easiest part of this venture is?

A: Opening the package. <laughs> Look, it's one of those plastic ones!

Q: What will the most difficult part be?

A: The spacing. It's hard to tell what something looks like before it's up and hanging.

Q: Do you think these types of home improvement projects can help inspire people even in such a big city like L.A.?

A: It brings a sense of satisfaction, being able to complete something that is out of your comfort zone. There's a lot of confidence in that.

Q: What are your hopes for the finished result?

A: Joy. I want to see it hanging from my window while I'm working and see the breeze move them around.

Q: Are you normally this handy?

A: No, not usually.

Q: What's your working style? Do you read the instructions, or figure it out as you go along?

A: Usually this kind of stuff sits around on my desk for awhile before I get the confidence to try it. But, once I'm working on it, I'm focused. I read the directions.

Q: What kind of advice do you have for other L.A.'ers who want to tackle a creative, for-the-home project?

A: If it inspires you, try it! You might be surprised with what you end up with.