This upcycle was the result of a friend's request. She has a preschool and wanted to do a ribbon weaving project with her kids, with each child bringing a ribbon representing themselves to weave in the framed wire. I happened to have an old wire shelf and some leftover live-edge wood from a previous build, so a new project was born.
I began by framing the wire shelf with 2x2s that I had cut with a dado blade so they had a 1/2" groove just big enough for the wire down the length of them. This allowed the wire to have a snug fit and be well supported. All boards were cut, sanded, and stained before I put the piece together.
I then used a tow strap to hold the frame tightly together. If you use this technique be careful not to get your fingers as you tighten it. This keeps the boards in the right position until you can add the back supports.
I used live edge wood for this next step (and I love how it looks) but you can use any long board as long as it connects well to the frame to add support.
Then, I screwed the support boards into the frame from the back so that the screws would not show. Be careful not to use too long of screws or they will poke through the front.
I was so pleased with how the piece turned out. My friend liked the live edge wood look so much that she said she was hesitant to cover them with ribbons. She did end up using it for her ribbon-weaving project and says she has had many people comment on the uniqueness of her frame.
