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  We started with this very outdated upholstered chair and a can of Pure White CHALK PAINT™...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 All you need is CHALK PAINT™, a brush, and some outdated fabric!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.

Paint and Pancakes

Who says something has to have good bones to be worth painting?  This old crate hardly had any bones at all, but thanks to Kelli Montana it can now fit in to the cutest of rooms.  Having "fresh", bright flowers year round is just a bonus.  :)

We promised a makeover and here she is! Remember when this little bookshelf used to look like this?  Antibes Green and Florence perked her right up, so she's now worthy to display the fantastic new art work by Emily Little.

This hall tree is the perfect piece to brighten an entryway.  While Antibes Green and Florence create a bright and bold look, Pure White and Paris Grey are a classic combination.  Their neutral tones create a beautiful neutral background for any decor. 

Finally, we have just one question before you go:

Too forward?  Well, we thought we'd give it a shot. :)  It'd still make a darling accompaniment for your kitchen. You might even get some pancakes out of it!

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? 

On Cloud Nine

Well, this is certainly the most unique item we've ever sold in the shop.  If you need to spend some time on Cloud Nine, we've got you covered.  The silver lining comes with it; you can't beat a deal like that!  

If you've been in the shop the last few months, you'll have seen our antiqued green bed.  It started with a 50-50 mixture of Paloma and Antibes Green.  That became the base coat.  Then it was lightly streaked with Old White.

The streaks were sanded a good deal to blend them into the green, then topped off with a good deal of dark wax and sanding around the edges and details.  The bed itself is not very ornate, so this technique gave it a little character!

We introduced you to Florence a few weeks ago.  She's one bold lady, which makes her perfect for use in Kelli Montana's beautiful work!  This is one of her newest pieces.  You can see Florence showing off in the background, trying to steal the show as usual.  :)

Finally, we'd love you to stop by and see our new bookshelf!  The back is made of an antique door with its original chippy painted finish, while the front was built around it.  A little distressing made it all come together, so now it holds a few of our favorite things!  

We hope you're all having a wonderful week and staying cool!

Inspired Projects

We just received a new shipment of books.  With titles like "French Country Living" and "Romantic Style," you know they're bound to inspire.  Unfortunately, for us, they're so inspiring it's almost distracting!  It's difficult to pull ourselves away from them, but we have gotten around to a couple of projects lately...

Some guy's tool box may be rusty and cluttered, but ladies need style and organization.  We've taken this vintage tool box to the next level by adding CHALK PAINT™ and a little imagination.

This close up shows off the detail on the Barcelona Orange border. Instead of simply stenciling over it in a different color, we allowed the paint to thicken.  Then we used the impasto (thickened paint) to create a textured stencil design in the same color.  The dark wax on top brings out the contrast even more.

On top we used our stencils again, but this time layered different designs and colors.  It's a stunning effect and one that can easily be learned at one of our advanced workshops!

We also became more acquainted with Florence. We're not quite done with it yet, but we have managed to paint this piece and bring out the detail with gold gilding wax. A coat of dark wax is all she needs to make her grand entrance! 

We'd love for you to join us and work on projects of your own!  You can read more about our advanced workshop and those offered by Kellie Montana and Wendy Day here and here.

Introductions Are In Order

We are pleased to introduce Florence, the newest addition to CHALK PAINT™ by Annie Sloan!  A beautiful malachite-inspired color, Florence is vibrance and sophistication all in one.  And you don't have to wait long to add it to your collection.  It will be on our shelves tomorrow--Friday, June 15th!

Painted Side Table by Annie Sloan; Photography by Christopher Drake

If you've already tried your hand at CHALK PAINT ™  and feel like you're ready to learn something new, we have the workshop for you!

We'll be covering four advanced techniques.  First, you'll learn how to create a stunning shabby chic effect by layering different stencil designs.

Next comes silver or gold gilding wax.  Learn how to apply it to your stenciled piece to create a soft, glamorous shimmer.

For those who enjoy a more antiqued look, we look forward to introducing you to CRAQUELEUR™ by Annie Sloan!  It is a two part water-based crackling medium that produces a gorgeous aged effect on painted surfaces. Come learn how to combine it with CHALK PAINT™ to create the perfect timeworn piece for your home!

Finally, we'll be creating texture with CHALK PAINT™ by thickening it to an impasto form. Impasto refers to the paint itself, which becomes very thick, and the layering technique used with it.  This method adds richness and depth to even the most plain, flat surface.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 11 from 9am to 1pm.  We would love to see you there!

Work, Work All Month Long

For many, summer is the time to relax in the shade or splash around in the pool. For us, summer means workshops!

Anyone who has been in C'est Moi has seen Kellie Montana's artwork all over the shop. It is absolutely fabulous, whether it's in a large ornate frame...

or so small it almost fits in your pocket!  

We are excited to announce that Kellie will be teaching at C'est Moi this month!  Come learn how to hand tint your own photo and stencil the frame, for a unique piece of art that's all your own.  The workshops will be Tuesday, June 26th and Friday, June 29th, from 9am to 1pm.  The price is $145 and includes all supplies.

In addition to Kellie's workshops, watercolor artist extraordinaire Wendy Day will also be sharing her amazing talents with us!  Wendy will hold her painting workshop on Friday, June 15th from 10am to 12:30pm. Supplies are included in the $75 fee.  

Call us at 615-457-3579 or come in the store to sign up.  We hope to see you at one or both workshops in the next few weeks!