Preparing for the Business Expo

Lately, I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to create some new samples, refinish some furniture and build some columns.  I’ve been coming up with new things to show at our local business expo. 

Last year was my first time participating in it and I was fortunate to win the price of “most creative booth”.  It was a very nice surprise.  However, I am feeling a little pressure this year to make sure it’s just as good if not better.

I’ve had the idea of building some faux columns.  I built the base out of wood and the column is pvc pipe.  Here is a picture of it before I’ve started painting it.  I’m testing it out in this spot, because I think I’ll keep them here by our patio door.  I think it’s the perfect solution, because we have no storage room.  They will fit in perfectly with the decor.

My studio has spilled over to the rest of the basement, because I was running out of room.  Here are some pictures of my very messy studio and some of the projects I’m working on.

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As you can see I’ve started painting the columns.  I really like the way the actual columns look.  I’ve redone the bases several times, because I haven’t gotten the look I’m going for.  John keeps telling me all the columns he has seen, the base matches the column.  So… after several attempts of giving them a different look, I’ve given in to making them match the column.  I’ll post the pictures when they are finished. 

On the table, the black and white things are banners I’m doing faux finishes on.  I’m going to hang them in my booth.  I’ve got so many ideas of what I want to do, but only four panels.  It’s been tough deciding which finish to choose.  As of this morning, I’ve got one finished it’s black with bronze and gold (unless I add a stencil to it). I think what I’m going to do for the other three is: one as a wall of 12x12 slate tiles.   One is going to be a neutral colorwash, with a gold design.  The last one is going to be girly, but I’m not quite sure what.  I’m thinking purple or pink with flowers and glitter.  I love adding the sparkles for girls rooms.

I’ve also been working on some furniture, this is new for me.  The first table is a coffee table I got from a friend who was selling it at a garage sale.  I’ve always wanted to do a checkerboard on a table, so here is my version of that.  Also, I’ve posted the before picture of the table.

Here is another little table I’m working on, it’s still not finished.  It’s getting close though.

Ok, I’ve still got lots of work to get done before next Saturday.  I better get to it.  I’ll post pictures of my booth when it’s set up.

My little painters.

I came across these pictures while searching through my disks of old photos.  I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was a nightmare.

We live on a hill, so we’ve got this cement wall outside our garage.  I suppose it’s to keep the hill in place, but it’s quite ugly.   One day, I was playing around and painting it to look like limestone.  I used those little bottles of acrylic paint you get at the craft store, mixed with a little glaze.  When I started it, I thought it would come off when it rained, so I was just testing things out to see how it would look.  Well, to my surprise two years later it was still there, unfinished and looking like crap. 

So, one day while I was doing some painting in the garage, Jake and Jess wanted to do some painting too.  This is nothing unusual, every time I paint they want to paint too.  I decided what the heck, I’ll let them paint the cement wall.  You can see some of the paint got on the wall. 

We (probably more me than John) decided just let them have fun.  It’s nice outside, we can just hose them off when they are done.  Yeah right!  This paint dried on them and it was a total nightmare to get off.  But look how much fun they had doing it.

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Jess looks like a little boy here with her short hair and no shirt on.  I think we had two summers straight where she went topless.  Ahhh, to be a carefree little girl.  She’s six now and won’t even get changed without closing her door now.  I’m sure one day she’s going to hate these pictures, but they are so cute.

Mead’s house.

Here is a project I did for some very good friends of mine.  I’ve known them for about as long as I’ve known my husband.  It’s my husbands’ best buddy from high school.  I’ve painted every bedroom in their house and one of the bathrooms.  Today, I’m going to just show you the bathroom and two of the bedrooms (the other three were just painted, no faux finishing).

This bathroom is one they HATED.  It’s the bathroom off their master bedroom.  As you can see in the before pictures, it had plain white walls, with grey tiles and a burgundy accent tile.  Ideally, they would like to have gutted the entire thing.  However, since that wasn’t going to happen, I suggested “let’s just paint it”.  Our main goal was to make the burgundy tile work with the rest of the room.  Well, what better way to do that than make the walls burgundy.  I applied venetian plaster to the walls.  As you can see, it totally transformed the room.  I also painted the drywall around the tub a glossy black.  I think that made a big difference too. 

This is one of the most dramatic before and after examples I’ve got in my portfolio.  It was a lot of work; three coats of troweled on venetian plaster and a protective topcoat.  Absolutely worth it in the end.

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This next room is the master bedroom.  It is just off the above bathroom. We wanted to make sure the bathroom and bedroom colors complemented each other.  For this one, I troweled on a base to give it some texture.  Then, I painted a base coat over the texture.  Finally, I did a colorwash to highlight the highs and lows of the textured walls.  As you can see it really warms up the room.  I just love the way these before and after shots look.  It’s amazing how it transformed the space from cold to warm and cozy.  And it was done with just a little faux finishing….. I love my job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most recent room I did for them was their daughter’s room.  This was really fun, because I got to do a surprise makeover of her room.  I was told she wanted orange walls and l think they said she liked purple and lime green too.  So, I went to IKEA to find some inspiration. 

I found a beautiful duvet cover and went from there.  I painted the walls a light orange (I felt like it was a big band-aid before the finishing touches were added).  I then painted the ceiling dark purple with a hand painted design in light green.  On one of the walls, I also painted some panels.  The panels were done the opposite of the ceiling, light green background with the design hand painted in purple.

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The ceiling is definitely a one of a kind.  My neck was killing me by time I finished it.  If I ever do it again, I will used a stencil.  Oh, who am I kidding.  If someone asks, of course I’ll do it again.  It’s just like childbirth, you forget how much it hurts after awhile.  It looks really cool when you are laying on the bed looking up.  It was a successful makeover, she loved it.

Thank you to The Mead’s for giving me the freedom to “play” with their rooms.  I love you guys!

Meet my family…

Ok, so I’m still trying to figure out what all I want to include in my blog.  I started it mostly to show painting projects that I’m working on, thinking about, or have already completed.  But, part of me also wants to share some of my day to day craziness.  I hope I make sense and this doesn’t turn into some crazy mixed up jumbled mess (wait, that seems to describe my life perfectly).  Did I mention, I love spontaneity and seem to work my best under the pressure of a deadline?

I guess one of the first things I feel I need to say is… I was never good at writing.  I tend to have ALOT of run-on sentences and I’m not the best speller.  However, I think if you ever talk to me I probably talk in run-on sentences too.  When I have something to say I like to get it out there before I forget it.  And if I’ve had a lot of coffee or I’m really excited about something, watch out cuz I can talk really fast then.  By the way, I’m about finished with a half a pot of coffee at this point.

So, a little more about me and my family.  I’ve got a very  handsome husband, John is one of the nicest people I’ve ever known.  I’ve never known anyone to be so genuinely nice.  You can just tell it comes so naturally for him.  He is very supportive of my painting and business.  He doesn’t always see my vision, but he trust me and so far, he’s liked everything I’ve done.  He taught me that “everything happens for a reason”.  That is one of the most important things I’ve learned in my life.  It’s one of the three most precious gifts he’s given me.  The other two, are our wonderful children… Jake and Jessica (better known as Jess).

Jake is eight and loves football, Brett Farve, baseball, PS2, Wii, and  music.  He adores his father.  From the time he was four, up until last year, he would dress like his dad almost every day.  I think he wore a shirt and tie to preschool/kindergarten 90% of the time, because he wanted to dress like dad.  He still prefers to be with his dad over anyone else.  He’s even turned down play dates with friends if dad is going to be home.  I hope they never lose that bond.

Jess is six and loves fashion, polly pockets, bratz, iCarly, and being  with her friends.  She is my little social butterfly.  She comes up with the craziest outfits, but you gotta love them.  Although we are already butting heads over some of them.  She doesn’t seem to understand why tanktops aren’t appropriate in the winter.  Jess is the sweetest girl, most of the time.  Lately, she has been testing out how far she can get with the sassiness and showing some attitude.  I can see many confrontations in our future, but for now, I’m enjoying the sweetness and trying to nip the attitude in the butt.  I know, I know I’ve got a long road ahead of me.  So far though, I can say her kindness, sense of humor and the fact  I think she is so darn cute is outweighing those sassy moments.

Let’s see, what else?  Oh, we currently have three cats. 

The first one we got was Spooner Baby (commonly referred to as Spoonie).  We got her from a shelter in Spooner Wisconsin in 2005. She is really friendly and doesn’t let any of our guests visit without giving her some of their attention.  She’s kinda long haired, tiger colored with white. 

 

 

The second one we got is Jelly Bean.  We got him on Easter in 2006  from my parents.  He is the coolest cat, everybody LOVES him.  He is a big fluffy moosh ball.  He loves to be held and just flops over your shoulder.  Unfortunately, the past several months he has been having some kidney problems.  Looks like we are going to have to get him on a special diet to try and prevent his reoccurring kidney infections.

 

 

 

 

Finally, our third cat is Cali.  Once again, she came from my parents.  She is Jelly Bean’s half sister.  We got her in August 2007, on my birthday.  Cali has no tail, just like her mother.  She is a nice cat, a little more stand-offish than the other two.  We are currently trying to find her a new home.  She is too young to be on the special diet that Jelly needs to be on and it’s too hard to try and keep it separate.  Plus, I must admit John was right three cats is too many.

Ok, so now you’ve met my family.  I’ll be posting updates on us as well and my projects and anything else I find interesting to share.  Like I said, hopefully you can follow my writing and make some sense of it.  Just remember, I’m a painter not a writer. 

By the way, if you’ve got the time, leave me some comments.  This way I know I’m not just talking/writing to myself.  Enjoy the day!