A Barn Makeover

We're not sure exactly what to call this building, which sits just a few yards down from C'est Moi. But Tawnya has always had a little barn envy, so...

we gave her a makeover! We'll be focusing our energy on the inside in the coming weeks and months, but today it's all about the outside. We painted her in CHALK PAINT™ in Primer Red, to mimic the look of many of the old barns you see throughout Tennessee. Suggestions for "official" names are welcome. :)

Speaking of makeovers, take a look at this fabulous display of Kellie Montana's artistic talent. The dresser is painted in CHALK PAINT™ in Country Grey, with the trim and hardware in Chateau Grey. Kellie then used various colors of CHALK PAINT™ to create this whimsical birds and branches theme. We love it!

While Kellie went to work on her masterpiece, we watched several customers work on theirs during one of our workshops. Here they used blow dryers as part of a crackling technique. Ask about our workshop schedule the next time you're in the shop; there is always plenty to learn when it comes to using Annie Sloan ™ CHALK PAINT!

Ready for a Close Up

Sometimes photographs just don't do a painted piece justice, especially when the beauty is in the details. This chandelier-in-progress, for instance, has a lot of design work that would be difficult to see if you're not in close range. Let's take a better look...

Using a chip brush to dry brush CHALK PAINT™ highlights the chandelier's embellishment. It's not always a good idea to fill in every crevice; it's usually much more interesting to not paint a piece perfectly. At least that's the way we think around here.  :)

If you just can't help but strive for perfection, though, then we have a new product for you.  We love Gilders Paste by Baroque Art.  These little beauties come in several shades that each add a beautiful metallic finish to anything they touch.

We used it with a stencil to layer over some impasto CHALK PAINT™ on a canvas.  You can use your finger, a sponge, a toothbrush(!), or a cloth to apply it straight out of the can. Or you can thin it out to use with a brush, just like a normal paint.  It's a versatile product we know you'll love!

Our last features are for those of us whose best friends are of the four-legged variety.  Wendy Day always manages to produce fun, whimsical watercolors, but these simply make our hearts melt! 

This one is our favorite.  He looks like he's having fun, and the bright blues and greens in the background lift our spirits, too!  We can always count on Wendy to radiate happiness, even when she's not in the shop!

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If you happen to be close to Hartsville this weekend, come stop by the Strawberry Patch Barn Sale!  The fun begins to day at 10am and goes until 6pm; tomorrow we'll be there from 10am to 4pm.  We look forward to seeing you!

It's All About Florence

Have a project lying around, just waiting on you to decide what color to use?  Then we are pleased to announce we have the perfect solution for you! New 4 ounce sample pots of CHALK PAINT™ are on our shelves!  You can now compare several colors at home without the commitment of buying a whole quart. Perfect for those of us who change our minds more than a few times. :)

There's one lady that we never change our minds about, though. She's Florence, of course!  Remember this bookcase we painted in Florence and Antibes Green?

How about this French piece with beautiful gilding on the front? (One of our favorites!)

Not too long ago we also shared this extraordinary frame makeover. Florence, of course, was the star of this show.  Are you noticing a trend yet?  Just keep going...we promise it'll be worth it. :)

This side table is one of our most recent designs. We painted most of the piece in Florence, while the lower shelf and drawer inset is Graphite. All it needed was a little clear wax to top it off.  We love the contrast on this piece!

We liked it so much, in fact, that we used the same colors on this bookshelf!  Florence covers most of the piece, while Graphite accents the back.

And just in case you thought CHALK PAINT™ is for furniture only, we also painted a floor covering. A bright, punchy floor mat can add much-needed color in unexpected places.

Now for the best part of this post; the quart of Florence in the picture above is the only can of paint we used to paint all of the pieces in this post!  So if you're worried about how far a quart will go...don't be. Yet another reason we love CHALK PAINT™!

We're not the only ones in love, though. The students at our advanced workshop centered around Florence learned to mix it with other colors to shade their layered stencils. One of our favorite colors is made when Florence is combined with Provence; it turns out a beautiful Tiffany Blue.  Why don't you pick up a couple of sample pots and see for yourself?  :)

Behind the Scenes

Anyone who's come in the shop has probably noticed our nice little workstation in the back corner. If you've ever seen one of us toiling away at the table, you'll know that this is where we complete almost all of our smaller painting projects.  These craft boxes, for instance, are a great painting project for those who don't want to leap into a big commitment.

You could paint them each in solid, coordinating colors or you can use our approach.  We'll reveal the final result when their complete, but there's no need to be traditional with such a quick and inexpensive project. Try using three (or even more) colors on one box to really brighten things up! 

These 1" chip brushes are the perfect tool to try it with!  Having several of these on hand makes changing paint colors easy. They're also fantastic for painting in small crevices or cutting in edges and corners.

We'll definitely be using these brushes when we spruce up these drawers. They've been waiting for a makeover, and we can't wait to give them a little more life!

You can see from this picture just how much of a difference a little paint can make.  We painted both the frame and the mat, and they now highlight a beautiful Midori paper pattern. A quick, easy project that's easy to replicate at home! 

If you do decide to start a project, this might be your new best friend. No fancy or expensive products here; baby wipes (yes, baby wipes!) will clean CHALK PAINT™ right off your hands. Sometimes simple is best!   

What's Your Sign?

Our newest items from Waxing Poetic put a whole new spin on astrology.  Are you always making friends? Loyal and generous? Influenced by kindness?  Then why not wear Planetary Traits Cuff to show your heart on your wrist instead of your sleeve?

In case you're looking for a project to work on, you might want to take inspiration from the one we finished a few weeks ago.  We started with this very outdated upholstered chair and a can of Pure White CHALK PAINT™...

And we ended up with this beauty!  While painted upholstery has been attempted before, it's never been this easy.  No preparation or mixing paint with extenders. All you need is CHALK PAINT™, a brush, and some outdated fabric!

If you'd rather leave the painting to someone else, come to the shop and check out Wendy Day's newest art work.  Her beautiful watercolor peaches are the perfect way to brighten up a room!

You can also lighten and brighten with a solar Lid Light.  Fit it on top of any standard mason jar, turn out the lights, and watch it glow!  This best seller creates beautiful natural light for backyard parties but can also be used as everyday decoration for patios, sun rooms, and more.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Well, this little picture just says it all, doesn't it?

We just don't know "who" we're saying it to!  It could be this side table, which began as a hum-drum run of the mill piece.  We spiced it up with CHALK PAINT™ in Emperor's Silk, and the dark wax on top toned it down a bit.

That is, until she opens up and you get a peek inside!  We love adding a little surprise pop of color here and there.  Even when the outside is pretty bold itself!

We can't wait to turn this small bookshelf around.  While the details on the sides are lovely, the gold color just doesn't mesh well with everything else in the shop.  Do you have any ideas for colors?  

Something soft like Paloma or French Linen?  Or should we go the other route and use a color like Henrietta or Greek Blue?  We'd love to hear your ideas!

Finally, we have our latest find. We're not quite sure yet where this tufted chair will end up (or how she'll look when she gets there) but for now Madame is quite content where she is. :)

Have you been working on any projects lately? 

Meet Janice Maria

" Janice Maria Appropriately named after two dear friends."





Save the Ta-Ta's with C'est Moi! We are participating in Painted Pink(a group of artists who agree to paint a piece pink for charity). For the month of October this cutesy cabinet, Janice Maria, will be on display in shop for the highest bidder to take home. All of the proceeds will go to The Minnie Pearl Foundation. Better hurry, her price tag has already escalated to to $50.

We couldn't possibly think of painting Janice Maria in anything else, but Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Because she is such a special gal, we created a special color just for her. She is a blend of 50% Scandinavian Pink and 50% Old white, and just to keep her our little "French Mademoiselle" we had to do a little gilding too.

Accessories to help you "Sloan"

Let Annie Sloan's paint transformation book guide you through your newest Chalk Paint project, or just add a little more fabulous to your home with "Creating the French Look". Paperback $19.95




Along with the new books, the Annie Sloan wax brushes are in! Made from nickel plated steel and boar hair, this brush makes waxing as easy as pie.