Window screens built by hand

I undertook a major (well, depends on how you define major really) project yesterday, which was the construction of custom screens for my front windows. This project has been in the works since the end of May, which is when I first acquired a roll of fiberglass screen. Since then, I've been on the lookout for wood, but honestly, I was just lazy and never really got around to looking for it. Then the complaints came rolling in from my new roommate about mosquito bites and I knew it was time to pick up the project again.

My colleague and friend Amanda gave me the brilliant idea of using painter's canvas stretcher bars as the frame, which come in every length from 8 - 50", so I was able to get the exact sizes after two trips to Chinatown's Pearl Paint (37" tall, 35" wide) and they are already grooved to fit tightly together in a lovely square shape. Amanda loaned me her staple gun and I set to work yesterday afternoon. I completed two of the three screens and they are beautiful if I do say so myself. Tonight I am going to finish the third one and get it installed. The last steps will be to find a little self-adhesive rubber gasket for the sides and to paint them black so they match the windows. Then the place will be bug-free! Isn't that exciting? I thought that Emily would be more impressed than she was when I proudly showed them to her last night, but whatever. She'll be grateful enough when she no longer gets any bug bites.

Maybe I'll take a picture of one and put it up here tomorrow. Keep your eyes peeled for it!