tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23330435632635289172024-02-02T06:27:59.157-06:00ChicpaintElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-18936372018759365642014-01-23T08:54:00.001-06:002014-01-23T08:54:00.499-06:00medical spa vision board 2<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/medical_spa_vision_board/set?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=110988469' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='630' title='medical spa vision board 2' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/1r1MEGZ8mXelaxpjPIp8Q/cid/110988469/id/YHTzKz6E4xGqKWLrZFZllw/size/c600x630.jpg' alt='medical spa vision board 2' width='600'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/medical_spa_vision_board/set?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=110988469' target='_blank'>medical spa vision board 2</a> by <a href='http://chicpaint.polyvore.com/?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>chicpaint</a> featuring <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/emerald_green_furniture/shop?query=emerald+green+furniture' target='_blank'>emerald green furniture</a></small></div><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><small><div style='padding-top:16px'><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=86244353' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/86244353.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=86244353' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Uttermost lamp</a><br/>casa.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=99422592' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/99422592.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=99422592' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Arteriors wood wall art</a><br/>blisshomeanddesign.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=100774626' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/100774626.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=100774626' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Velvet couch</a><br/>overstock.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=93455502' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/93455502.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=93455502' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Grey furniture</a><br/>arhaus.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=100555191' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/100555191.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=100555191' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Mitchell Gold Bob Williams mitchell gold bob williams furniture</a><br/>mgbwhome.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=96362576' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96362576.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=96362576' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Emerald green furniture</a><br/>hayneedle.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p><p style='clear:both;margin:0em;padding:0px'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=96663585' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' style='border:1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 8px 8px 0;padding:2px;background-color:#ffffff;' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96663585.jpg' hspace='4' align='left' width='50'/></a><div style='margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=3130248&.svc=blogger&id=96663585' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Fabric dining chair</a><br/>overstock.com<br/><br style='display:none'/></div></p></div></small></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-54167383373542632712014-01-19T18:48:00.001-06:002014-01-19T18:50:55.604-06:00katz cocktail<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-73503348083153641282013-12-27T11:01:00.004-06:002013-12-27T11:09:09.205-06:00Annual 'Nom Nom' recipe.....Caramel covered BuglesI'm one of those people who does NOT appreciate the recipes that take up the second half of Decorating magazines. I like to eat, sure, but I really don't like to cook.If I wanted a cooking magazine, I'd have bought a cooking magazine! So I know this is a design/art/painting blog...but I do from time to time share a recipe that is so good it just HAS to be shared. But I keep it to a minimum of ONE.PER.YEAR. You're welcome!<br />
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Here's this year's Nom Nom. (This recipe is originally from "My Crowded Kitchen" blog, but I made a few changes. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Caramel Covered Bugles</b></span></span></div>
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Ingredients:<br />
1 bag Original Bugles<br />
Pecan halves (you can use a lot or a little or leave them out all together, I've seen other recipes that call for a can of mixed nuts, it's up to you.) <br />
1 cup butter, unsalted<br />
2 cups brown sugar<br />
1/2 cup light corn syrup<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1 tsp pure vanilla extract<br />
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional) <br />
<b>You must have a candy thermometer to make this. </b><br />
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Spray <b>Pam</b> or other non stick cooking oil onto cookie sheet, then spread out the Bugles and nuts.<br />
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.<br />
In a heavy duty sauce pan, combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup,vanilla,cinnamon and salt. Place on medium heat, stirring until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Continue to boil (low boil) until <b>candy thermometer</b> reads 'firm ball'. (This takes about 10 minutes). <br />
Remove from heat and add baking soda. Sprinkle it in, instead of dumping it in. The caramel sauce will foam up. Make sure to stir in the soda thoroughly.<br />
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Evenly pour mixture over Bugles and nuts. Gently toss with a spatula to cover the Bugles and nuts.<br />
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Bake at 250 for 45 minutes total, re-coating and turning the Bugles after every 15 minutes. <br />
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After 45 minutes, remove to <b>parchment paper</b> and let cool. Try to spread out the Bugles as much as you can because as they cool, the caramel will harden and stick together. Try to make small clusters of 1, 2 or 3 Bugles but don't worry if you don't, you can just break the hunks apart after they cool.<br />
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This recipe is easily doubled, however I usually end up with more Caramel than I need.<br />
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Nom Nom! <br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-79193795127171776122013-12-23T22:06:00.002-06:002013-12-23T23:52:41.567-06:00Merry Christmas.....a 'mini' house tourHappy Holidays to my readers and people who pin my photos! <br />
I have had an extra-ordinarily busy holiday season with work....my new business...being in love and trying to squeeze in as much time with my sweetie....I FINALLY got some photos of this years' holiday decor in my home. <a href="http://thelittlecurldesigns.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-muck-stops-here-aka-5-door-mat.html" target="_blank">My little sister has started a blog</a> you may want to check out...she is very very very crafty in a good way and will be posting directions to her numerous projects. If you like working with fabrics and stuff that has to be mathematically figured out, well you'll love her bloggie poo. Anyway, <strike>she shamed me </strike> I was inspired to put the wine glass down and write!<br />
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I try to mix things up each year, even if I am using primarily the same stuff. This year however, I painted a couch my neighbor gave me, which didn't match our decor AT ALL but was in decent shape. We really wanted a couch in the sunroom and so I figured I had nothing to lose by painting it. It was free, so why not? I painted it SW "Antique White" with Textile Medium added. I placed it in front of the fireplace for 2 reasons: our fireplace doors are hideously ugly, and we can't have a fire until I have the chimney swept, and I"m kind of a cheap bastard so we aren't having a fire anytime soon. Anyway...I tried to keep my holiday decor a little less crazy, I love the whiteness of the sunroom and I am a bit obsessed with that right now, and wanted to incorporate some simplicity to my holiday decor. (And by simplicity Imean 'tons of disco balls everywhere').<br />
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Painting a couch does make it a bit crispy, but it's really not that bad and honestly THIS IS A DOG COUCH, so I'm glad that I can just wipe it down with bleach.<br />
I kept the mantle pretty simple this year and just used my pink glitter trees, some real everygreen garland, some disco ball garland and tiny twinkle lights. My sparkle reindeer and lots and lots of fake snow finish it off.<br />
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I go a little crazy with the faux snow...it's kind of everywhere. But it just vacuums up so I don't mind the mess. Hello there cute little birdie!<br />
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Also this year I painted the old walnut piano bench/coffee table with 2 colors of Van Gogh Chalk Paint. The basecoat is "Diva" and the overcoat is "Van Gogh". I LOVE VanGogh chalk paint, it's so easy to work with and I love the beeswax topcoat. I heavily sanded back the "VanGogh" (which requires very little elbow grease) to reveal lots of the "Diva" Color.<br />
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<i>completed VanGogh Chalk Paint finish</i><br />
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Each of my kids have a very beautiful handmade stocking....which I could not stand to look at this year. Haha! I'm not even kidding! I'm so over the whole 'red/green' Christmas thing...I didn't even bring them down from the attic. My favorite find are these 6 dollar white fuzzy stockings from Wal-Mart with pom pom edging. I hung them from silver hologram curling ribbon tacked just above the window frame.<br />
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I also decided to put all of my vintage Shiny Brites in a big galvanized tin bucket with a black and white striped bow.<br />
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Another Wal-Mart find ( I know, I am so ashamed....) are the softest Muppet blue blankets that I snagged for 15 bucks. Our sunroom is all cozi-fied now and we spend a great deal of time there.<br />
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I added this little table top tree to a newly painted end table. Remember how I told you my clients give me furniture all the time? Well this octogon table was given to me FOR FREE!! and it was really ugly, dark wood colored with peeling veneer before. Now it's all limey goodness. I used Van Gogh chalk paint on it too. I've had this tree for a long time and it's not particularly high quality...so I added a ton of ribbon to cover up the cheesey-ness.<br />
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Adjacent to the sunroom is the dining room (aka 'laundry folding situation'). I have blogged about my black and white striped dining table at least a dozen times, but I just love this Merry snowman Chimenea plopped in the middle of it! As much as I love shiny, silver, modern-y things....I dont' think EVERTHING should be any one way. I like this little bit of rustic in an otherwise not rustic room.<br />
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The faux mercury glass balls and stars hang down from my chandelier with more silver curling ribbon. <br />
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Over in the corner is a little chair no one is allowed to sit on, and my vintage silver garland wreath! Love this little corner (have I mentioned my disco ball obsession?)<br />
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One easy inexpensive way to give your tree a big impact, is to wrap the presents underneath it in a very planned out, coordinated way. I used black and white cheveron, polka dots, houndstooth, green chevron and some hot pink French Bulldog paper. Another trick of mine is to wrap presents for certain families or events in a specific paper to make finding them under the tree so much easier. I loved the way the papers looked just leaning against the hutch, so I left them there.<br />
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You might notice the stars hanging down from the top of the hutch as well as around the door opening to the main foyer, and one is my tree topper. They were 4 bucks a piece and I plan to reuse some of them for an upcoming big event in my life, but it's bad luck to discuss it. Wink, wink.<br />
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I bought them not knowing what I would do with them, and perhaps this isn't the 'perfect' situation, but it will do for now. </div>
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Looking into the dining room from the hallway you can see my pine/cedar garland that I draped over the bifold doors. I added some silver jingle bells and my collection of groovy stars. It's kind of funny, but everyone hits their head on that lowest star and to be honest, it's pretty painful.</div>
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For probably 15 years, I have had this tall skinny tree. I love it, it has some sentimental value for me now and every year I do something different with it. This year I added a boat load of silver tinsel and faux snow that I wish I could remember where I acquired, because I'd love to get some more. I've never seen it before or since...it's like itty bitty cotton balls that stick together. So sweet. I also recycled my pom pom yarn garland from last year ( yarn...from Hobby Lobby...which they don't carry anymore. The nerve!!!) </div>
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This is the only place I have traditional red Christmas going on...it's on the kitchen hutch, which as some gigantic red knobs. The sparkle Peace sign I made last year and then secretly hoped I wouldn't sell it, which I didn't. I went through a Peace Sign phase and I have a big one on the outside of my house too, above the mailbox in a not very effective attempt to keep bad news (bills) away. </div>
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One fun thing I did this year for my kids was to convert the top draw of our hot pink kitchen buffet into a hot beverage station. </div>
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(that wall isn't green anymore..TG) </div>
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It was really bittersweet cleaning out the top drawer, which was previously the girls' craft supply station (which has now taken over the entire basement). They seem to love the variety of hot chocolate and Sleepy Time tea though, so I think I'm off the hook. </div>
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This is my odd sofa table that lives in the main hallway. It's kind of a tray on legs. I filled it up with various colored balls and a snowman I've owned for years. I've got a thing for balls, which sounds all kinds of wrong.</div>
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I kept the rest of my foyer pretty much the same way I decorate it every year....but I changed my front door wreath to this simple strip-ey goodness. </div>
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Here is my "Merry Christmas to me" present, which is hanging in the foyer. I ordered this from etsy....and I think it sums up mine and Mike's view of life and how we found each other...where we've been and where we are going. I was going to give it to him, but he told me it was a bit girlie for his house, so it became my present to me! </div>
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I hope you had a great 2013 , but that 2014 is far far better!</div>
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xo </div>
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Elizabeth </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-86816861833113359042013-11-16T13:09:00.000-06:002013-11-16T13:21:08.184-06:00Dreamy Sky Ceiling and Mediterranean Textured wallsAs hard as I try to sell my clients on modern, colorful finishes....some 'Olde World' finishes are admittedly just as comfy as a pair of Ugg slippers on a snowy winter morning. This week I installed 2 old favorites in a dining room. A dreamy sky ceiling with a ceiling medallion, and crumbled stone walls with carved "Delicato" Modellos. Modellos are vinyl stencil or mask stickers that create a perfectly stenciled or carved look, depending on which type you get: Positive or Negative 'weed'. <br />
The "Delicato" design is one I have used before...I love it, it fits into many design styles and is very pretty. Here is a powder room I did a few years ago with the Delicato Modellos.<br />
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This particular client is very committed to a French/Mediterranean look. Her adjacent kitchen has beautiful terra cotta tiles with hand painted decos. They have also ordered a beautiful, drippin' with crystals chandelier (not shown in the following photos), which has an oil rubbed bronze finish. Given some of the existing details in the home, and the fact that beneath the chair rail was some damage from a previous wallpaper removal, I sold my clients on a trowelled Aquastone finish.<br />
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The recipe is as follows.<br />
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First I planned out where my Delicato designs would be....and painted in those areas with Aquabond Bronze, and a few smaller areas where I will let chunks of the bronze show through. I let the Aquabond dry overnight, and the next day applied the Modellos and trowelled untinted white Aquastone over the entire walls (leaving a few chunks of bronze showing through here and there). Whenever I am using a heavy texture over Modellos, I go ahead and pull out a small section of the sticker so that I can find them later. <br />
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Here the walls are shown with random areas of bronze paint, and the applied Modellos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKLdecNBHUl0_O1GI_7anPFAb5gFaEEqD9QWycAZ63Bgrpr8Oe1dtmLEP5vxhcy789bOymPbqNEQ-4c1SkLkuDJ2PY5fvOs5S-m7396X0lpwwEWxaItf7fTgDB-NiNkturBGrO747Nq8C/s1600/modello1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKLdecNBHUl0_O1GI_7anPFAb5gFaEEqD9QWycAZ63Bgrpr8Oe1dtmLEP5vxhcy789bOymPbqNEQ-4c1SkLkuDJ2PY5fvOs5S-m7396X0lpwwEWxaItf7fTgDB-NiNkturBGrO747Nq8C/s320/modello1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After I let the Aquastone dry overnight, I came back in with 3 glaze colors : Aquacolor Earth Brown (which is a khaki greenish/brown), Aquacolor Autumn Brown (which is a brownish orange) and Sherwin Williams 'Blonde'. The resulting color works well with the Terra Cotta tiles in the kitchen, and the new white washed floor in the dining room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF6O4ocaCUPB7gYS61y-rJxPaTcitsZOwzz7gTTEfWKJ4mEqDrPxJfvLyyLbc91zHAtTr22m6FI2f_Jmc800v30se_IlMKT0yAkjZOQy-kCw_8MPBe6ddZM5Lhi0ShUqugriGO2KYBtho/s1600/20131115_144458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF6O4ocaCUPB7gYS61y-rJxPaTcitsZOwzz7gTTEfWKJ4mEqDrPxJfvLyyLbc91zHAtTr22m6FI2f_Jmc800v30se_IlMKT0yAkjZOQy-kCw_8MPBe6ddZM5Lhi0ShUqugriGO2KYBtho/s400/20131115_144458.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
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While I was working on the walls (which is a minor factor in this room), I was also working on the ceiling, which is the real WOW factor here.</div>
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I created a dreamy sky look by swirling and sponging on 3 shades of blue (SW Honest Blue, Denim and a mix of those 2 colors...plus Navajo White) .I had my client prime the ceiling with a heavy duty primer, and then basecoat it for in Sherwin Williams "Honest Blue". </div>
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I began by creating dark shadowy clouds with the Denim blue mixed with 75 % Glaze. Next I swirled on a layer of Navajo White mixed with 75 % glaze over the entire ceiling. The last 2 passes were just adding in individual clouds with different shades of the colors I was using, mixed together to create a lot of variation. A sky ceiling is much more of a mural than a faux finish, it is a lot of standing back and looking and blending in areas that look funky. For this installation, I created the lightest clouds in the center of the room, radiating out from the chandelier, because I would also be using a Modello stencil around the chandelier. </div>
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Here is the sky ceiling completed. </div>
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Because I work alone, sometimes I have to do REALLY CRAZY things to get a job done, like cutting a one time use ceiling medallion modello IN HALF so that I could apply it to the ceiling by myself. Hey, whatever works,right? My one and only complaint about Modellos is that they are white and therefore extremely hard to see through the backing paper. So I compensate for that too by drawing the design on so that I can see it to help me with placement. I also measure out points on the design so that I can make sure my placement is correct. Even so, I ended up being slightly off on one side of the design, but I have to blame that on the fact that my client promised me numerous times that this chandelier would be taken down and it was not. Anyway...it's barely visible and anyone who points it out is a jerk in my opinion. Haha. I tried at first to just cut an opening to wrap around the ceiling medallion, but I was having too much trouble with it staying up while I made adjustments, so I just cut it in half. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NqpPRfWsFA9j8I5HhGr6pvIu1cmSBV-iGgDhbNqOt1z4ndeoITCyPgvFZynuW_fb7dfkdkLtphxP4SEH_RcCQ_0vaa-bT9QSaZ9jrlwBX7qgmxT-g56FgyE37UKYuFSfLZsxZicJp0fH/s1600/ceiling_modelloinhalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NqpPRfWsFA9j8I5HhGr6pvIu1cmSBV-iGgDhbNqOt1z4ndeoITCyPgvFZynuW_fb7dfkdkLtphxP4SEH_RcCQ_0vaa-bT9QSaZ9jrlwBX7qgmxT-g56FgyE37UKYuFSfLZsxZicJp0fH/s320/ceiling_modelloinhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I should also note that before you apply a modello, the underlying finish should be really dry. I let mine dry for about 40 hours with a fan blowing on it for several of those hours. I was glad the client mentioned to me that they have had a lot of issues with ceiling paint pulling off with tape....glad we primed it and let it dry out so thoroughly. I was STILL nervous about it though.<br />
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Here is the Modello design with the backing paper removed and I have begun painting in the design. The client decided she didn't want the outter border, which I think I was the right decision.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd-SqFltshofygD-ETDmK-YLG8UZShnfd6X-A-vY5pzgHSMIpfiKBfso0ABfAnHSTiFtNNdnM6InOSd3WeRGjolePc2Mg3oOoMt2DAWSZb6cssG0bH58JtXV7VLggElqOC4jbKa5h6cUC/s1600/modello_painted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd-SqFltshofygD-ETDmK-YLG8UZShnfd6X-A-vY5pzgHSMIpfiKBfso0ABfAnHSTiFtNNdnM6InOSd3WeRGjolePc2Mg3oOoMt2DAWSZb6cssG0bH58JtXV7VLggElqOC4jbKa5h6cUC/s320/modello_painted.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Voila! Here's the design after I applied a little gold foil here and there, and then removed the stencil sticker. I cannot wait to see the new chandelier!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNL2ETA59OC-IxFMm-sKEfyIxuAl2IBR8WiIQDzdI5GIKkBQk4Ic6cnDLM8JCdZKGtjQq3fdpMLMg4nFdUjnWd0O2rtI9xPlr52QACHGQrI5KsdcIaSSQTX8TVqdLt6N46R3J-y5s4vwf/s1600/skyceiling_complete_text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNL2ETA59OC-IxFMm-sKEfyIxuAl2IBR8WiIQDzdI5GIKkBQk4Ic6cnDLM8JCdZKGtjQq3fdpMLMg4nFdUjnWd0O2rtI9xPlr52QACHGQrI5KsdcIaSSQTX8TVqdLt6N46R3J-y5s4vwf/s320/skyceiling_complete_text.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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-Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-70562918968991765902013-11-08T13:16:00.002-06:002013-11-08T13:17:23.218-06:00Sometimes I decorate...Because I mostly work in empty houses, I LOVE it when I get to collaborate with another creative person on a project. This week I got to create a backdrop for Sarah Jane Photography's Holiday set. Sarah came up with the idea to use only neutrals and to paint the fireplace and tile white...while I designed and executed the wall finish and the mantle and fireplace displays. Such a fun project! I can't wait to see her portrait work in front of this set. She plans to add a crystal chandelier over the fireplace, and a linen upholstered armchair, which I cannot WAIT to see!!! I think these family portraits will be super classy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAjwDuVH1FOODYwDMMOQUdwQ56us5gUgX1T_zqklZKhzOqpb1BY2kthOH3wl2gTsvnYimkdlL8bAePf0kvAnr_pqWyllSFu0BDDyVchUmOKm4zbBlbBYy-RgIcZdNb0hW5kissTCR0OMM/s1600/after_sjpxmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAjwDuVH1FOODYwDMMOQUdwQ56us5gUgX1T_zqklZKhzOqpb1BY2kthOH3wl2gTsvnYimkdlL8bAePf0kvAnr_pqWyllSFu0BDDyVchUmOKm4zbBlbBYy-RgIcZdNb0hW5kissTCR0OMM/s400/after_sjpxmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are the details:<br />
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The background wall color is Sherwin Williams "Alpaca", which I am falling a little bit in love with...it's a grayish lavendar that changes color as the day progresses. Love that! The birch trees were painted with a pearl glaze and white paint.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdFYK2zrUtmFDUQJgvaz6sJZGLtg-0vyMoS9HZN5O7ygZCtCGwTWJ2rDzabWkTY-leLPCWHdOC6BQPg_iUs0kOrPa4CLqgkywbeazaIAfeGabUs2UTf-MxX23QcBtEeEROAbpAy-U3tJR/s1600/garland_sjp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdFYK2zrUtmFDUQJgvaz6sJZGLtg-0vyMoS9HZN5O7ygZCtCGwTWJ2rDzabWkTY-leLPCWHdOC6BQPg_iUs0kOrPa4CLqgkywbeazaIAfeGabUs2UTf-MxX23QcBtEeEROAbpAy-U3tJR/s400/garland_sjp.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
One of my favorite cheapskate tricks for holiday decor is to buy the 5 dollar plastic pine garland and then completely cover it with spray on snow. I added a few 'expensive' floral picks of long pine needles covered in crystals and pine cones. I tucked in disco balls ( my signature thing!) and hung lots of crystal chandelier drops from the garland. A little burlap ribbon was all we needed to complete the look. I found the burlap stockings at Hobby Lobby and scored them for 7 bucks a piece! <br />
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I really love the way the firebox turned out. I used the ceramic logs that were in place and added some pillar candles, disco balls, 'diamond' vase filler, large plastic diamonds and fake snow. I can't wait to do this in my own fireplace! The diamond vase filler and big fake diamonds were from the bridal aisle ( which mostly gives me "cliche' overload hives") at Hobby Lobby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuIZ1qGzX8N6S-T39K2COBeLfkZwhxZZ0P6d4RkRfr74v85dy6qa9V_sQajiKrpvwlWVI91Sc41GJ6I56BYuB7G6CeD73xmlmzenPSolQdEw-y27J23q-l_upE7yju-NewM7_goxaXPeY/s1600/fireplace_sjp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuIZ1qGzX8N6S-T39K2COBeLfkZwhxZZ0P6d4RkRfr74v85dy6qa9V_sQajiKrpvwlWVI91Sc41GJ6I56BYuB7G6CeD73xmlmzenPSolQdEw-y27J23q-l_upE7yju-NewM7_goxaXPeY/s320/fireplace_sjp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just for fun...Here's the 'before'... (well, actually 'in progress', the before was a fireplace wall hiding behind a bunch of hanging backdrops)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLiNu6Z05l_WoJIyyDwyj1IDH-0s0gZ76S1kJsRlx4hl9uW-GrYCB_00_s2u0mdrWa2lvD7IaW5Zo8eISBLbTE3i48uJ-zMUvG9jokQKS8zuCScqdQo9roFftBGtZXjjHWRYttTMN-7AX/s1600/sjp_xmasbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLiNu6Z05l_WoJIyyDwyj1IDH-0s0gZ76S1kJsRlx4hl9uW-GrYCB_00_s2u0mdrWa2lvD7IaW5Zo8eISBLbTE3i48uJ-zMUvG9jokQKS8zuCScqdQo9roFftBGtZXjjHWRYttTMN-7AX/s320/sjp_xmasbefore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Quite the transformation!!!!! Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-12716302654283090992013-10-23T00:13:00.001-05:002013-10-23T00:32:45.497-05:00This Girl is on Fire! There are so many subjects on my list of 'things to paint someday', and I am THRILLED when i finally get to cross one off.<br />
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Last week, I finally painted a gigantic, vintage/retro looking fashionable LADY in a massage therapy spa. I was sooo nervous about this mural, but I did some research (watched several 'how to paint human eyes videos on youtube!) and I am rather proud of myself for the outcome. She is realistic, her eyes match up and she has a retro flair that I'm pretty crazy about!<br />
This photo stinks....but the room has NO OVERHEAD LIGHT. It's a massage treatment room, after all, so low lighting is key. I painted the whole thing is 'almost' darkness, so i would know how it would be viewed by clients. There is a cherry blossom tree in the corner, which is heavily foiled and painted over with bright pink and white and is garish with the lights on....therefore I shall not show you a photo lest I ruin my reputation for being really good at color selection. But in low lighting, it is gorgeous. You can see some of the cherry blossoms creeping up into the girl's hair in the right hand corner. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg2LRQIPD-aoQiBqheMqGv7gAan4_GXEaLO2WnydDdyO7E11dROoLsUOMrbiG3tmoFUGI3q30tq6q3qbohSgH8_JOnKoi51T-j918UCQBZ4HrNSu7CUdM-T-s08g5AV5J-GZ88_BQToak/s1600/girlonfire_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg2LRQIPD-aoQiBqheMqGv7gAan4_GXEaLO2WnydDdyO7E11dROoLsUOMrbiG3tmoFUGI3q30tq6q3qbohSgH8_JOnKoi51T-j918UCQBZ4HrNSu7CUdM-T-s08g5AV5J-GZ88_BQToak/s400/girlonfire_crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last year, I painted the reception area in this Spa. I trowelled a Champagne Mist Lusterstone base, and then created a metallic foil mural of reeds and cranes over the top of it.<br />
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I wanted to keep the color scheme similar and use a lot of foils again for my 'lady mural'.<br />
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I was given an inspiration photo, which was a digital artwork of a woman's face with fire, and melted plastic superimposed over it (which sounds creepy, but it isn't.) I had to 'clean up' and simplify the image to fit into my skill set (wish I could paint totally realistic looking fire!!!!) and I decided to use Gold Hologram foil in the fire areas of the painting. The hologram foil changes colors as you move around the room, making it look like it is actually on fire. I used tons of red, purple, pink, gold, and hologram foil for both the Lady and the Cherry Blossom Tree murals.<br />
One thing that occured, that I hadn't really planned on, was that our inspiration photo had no hair, no ears, a missing eyebrow...a lot of anatomical things were missing. The more detail I put into her face, the more obvious it became that she needed hair ( and at least one ear!). I experimented with a few methods of hair painting and I really like this simple suggestion of hair. I think the simply outlined ear and the faintest suggestion of a neck bring it all together and complete the painting. Without them, my eye went right to the places that were missing body parts.<br />
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I had a lot of fun painting this mural. It was a nice pace, in a quiet place, that was very relaxing and free of pressure. I felt free to experiment with some different techniques. I need more jobs like that! <br />
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In a few weeks I will return and create another lady mural in the nail salon area of the Spa. I'm really excited to step out of my comfort zone again--it's so important to try new things as an artist!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-46441572019942054112013-10-07T21:34:00.000-05:002013-10-07T22:07:35.612-05:00Breast Cancer Awareness "Pink Collection"It's been awhile since I created a 'collection'....but this one has a lot of special meaning to me and I'd love to share with you the whys and hows of these pieces.<br />
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There's a little back-story to this collection. Actually a lot of back-story. I'll start with the the most important piece. I'm in love with a man whose mother I never got to know. She died of cancer when Mike was a senior in High School. I know, because of Mike's gentle spirit and kindness that she must have been one heck of a sweet woman. Sometimes during family get-togethers, they will talk about her. Her recipes, the things she liked or said....but it's no substitute for <i>KNOWING</i> someone.<br />
Sometimes in the last 4 years I would pray to her and I don't know if she heard me, or if she delivered but it still made me feel close to her in some way.<br />
There is tragedy in the whole thing, but for me personally, I was never close to my first mother-in-law. She struggled with painful shyness and was a hard woman to get to know.She was extraordinarily partial to boys and I am a girl factory.<br />
<i>I was kind of hoping for a second chance</i>.<br />
I wanted to do something to honor the woman I will never know, but whom I owe so much. She raised an amazing son and I just want her to know, in some small way, that it means the world to me.<br />
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So, here's the rest of the story. <br />
I go through these phases where I create art just for the fun of it. Then I get burned out, or busy and I abandon ship or walk away or just say 'yuck, i don't like it'. I have a whole stack of rejects all the time. Or if something doesn't sell, I layer over it and tweak it until I fall in love.(then I don't WANT to sell it) That's the real reason why my art has sooo much texture. There are usually at least 2 paintings layered over each other. So I realized my pile of rejected/abandoned canvases was getting kind of uncomfortably large and my bank account was getting kind of uncomfortably small and I thought 'you really need to get the hell off of Pinterest and create some art.' But I wanted it to be meaningful and something to 'give back' in some way. I put a little deadline on myself of October, and realized that is breast cancer awareness month. It was all just so obvious what I had to do.<br />
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So I got to work. Since I can't create a entire collection of artwork based on someone I never knew, I decided to make each piece be about some strong woman I knew. Cancer warriors, mothers, Survivors of any kind....<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Yo Viv!</span></b><br />
Art has to come from somewhere....some deep place, some tender spot, to be really <i>good</i> art.<br />
My Grandmother died recently and I wanted to commemorate things about her. I pulled out a coral pink canvas that I actually loved, but didn't sell and started layering things on top of it. I chose that particular painting to honor her because it has these circular 'cookies' on it....and as my cousin Michael said in her eulogy...."She was the only person who would stuff you full of cookies one visit, and then ask you if you'd gained weight the next."<br />
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A long time ago, I cut out this heart with bra sizes all over it. I knew I would use it in a collage someday. My Grandmother, while she was living was a breast cancer survivor. (She died of old age). She also loved to quilt and so I added some buttons and some very old straight pins that are still in their original roll.<br />
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I made a copy of a photo of my Grandfather as a boy with some of his cousins or his brothers, and some headless women behind them. That photo just cracks me up...He was just the cutest thing!!! (He's on the end, smiling.)<br />
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I added some vintage pink sequins and some glitter and then poured resin over the whole thing. I love it.<br />
I named her (all of these paintings are women) "Yo, Viv!". My Grandma was named Vivan and I miss her. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God I'm Pretty</span></b><br />
When I first started creating artwork to sell, I entered photos of my work in a local art fair. I had to be judged by 3 'jury' members...all of whom most not have gotten the memo about how much art I had donated to their annual charity auction because I was unceremoniously rejected from participating. They must not have gotten the memo that my donated pieces had all sold too, and I was creating lots of commissioned pieces for some of their biggest spenders. <i>They really should check their memos more often.</i> After I said 'screw you!!!' about 9,000 times, I decided it was a God thing and I wasn't ready anyway. I started just experimenting and playing around with painting over studs and beads and all kinds of crazy raised textures I created with some of my faux painting products. Long story short...I had this one canvas, that was from that original attempt to be accepted in my own town....that had a ton of texture on it but was kind of a painful memory. She was sad, <i>she needed to be happy</i>.<br />
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What's happier than a huge pile of confetti?.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33tzz7g_pEY8O1Ilf2i-Q7a5F3-Fw8RJA1nhoWMdXzV3jSGeek0ApOw2kkBY0k0X5Pt0xARmJ5850KHlGN1rzqoOoLKpDz1PuUxdm0UcKDCBxiZjVy4aK_u907JM4Q_AvWOPevt6zYZC8/s1600/thankgod_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33tzz7g_pEY8O1Ilf2i-Q7a5F3-Fw8RJA1nhoWMdXzV3jSGeek0ApOw2kkBY0k0X5Pt0xARmJ5850KHlGN1rzqoOoLKpDz1PuUxdm0UcKDCBxiZjVy4aK_u907JM4Q_AvWOPevt6zYZC8/s640/thankgod_blog.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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See....I told you. It's good to be her and that Arts' Council can kiss her ass. She's got her fur coat, and her tiara and her gloved middle finger up, cause dammit....she's pretty and she doesn't care if you like her.<br />
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When I was finished with this painting, I decided her name should be Barb. She reminds me of one of my mom's dearest friends who was not only gorgeous but hilarious and she too was taken too soon from breast cancer. Had she been brunette, I'd have named her Jeanne because another one of my mom's closest friends ALSO died of cancer. (Cancer SUCKS!!!!!) But Jeanne did always have a gigantic smile of her face.<br />
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It's a party! A bridge playing party!<br />
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I wish I had 'bridge' ladies. My mom has played bridge once a month for like the last 35 years or something crazy like that with the same group of women. Sadly, two of them are now in heaven but the bridge ladies still get together, even if no one has seem them shuffle a deck in at least 10 years.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bitter is the New Black</span></b><br />
If I'm being honest, I created this Bitter collage because I thought it was hilarious. But then, I started pulling together pieces together to layer on top of it that appealed to me, and in some subconscious way, they all pointed to a period in my life that was not really funny at all.<br />
I hesitate to explain what it's about, I don't want to ruin it for people. But in a nutshell, ugly divorce...bad, bad times... It changed me. Like it changed my DNA. Seriously.<br />
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Every single little piece in this collage has a deeper meaning to me :Game pieces, a tarnished tiara, dress patterns, lots of broken jewelry. </div>
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I love this page taken from an old Love Letter Writing hand book! </div>
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Everything is covered in resin, which is becoming one of my favorite techniques!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fly</span></b></div>
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Every family has it's legends and lore. One of my family's is a story that I will not share here, out of respect for my mother, but the word FLY has a lot of meaning for us. I personally find it whimsical and humorous and having just reluctantly pushed my oldest baby bird out of the next with instructions to SOAR!!!!....I like this painting a lot. I want to get the word 'fly' tattooed on my foot with 4 little silhouetted birdies....but out of respect for my mother.....<i>le sigh</i>...</div>
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I really like the juxtaposition of the sweet frame, the doily fragments, the skeletonized leaves that look like wings....and the big, bold, in your face FLY! It's almost like graffiti. It is a command. "<i>Fly, Girl!" </i> </div>
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Like the others, this one is coated in resin.</div>
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My mom is also a cancer survivor. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PINK</span></b></div>
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The final piece in this collection I will have a very hard time letting go of. I am soooo in love with it. It's called PINK and it's my favorite, and also the biggest piece in the collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWVNe78KA4v85cBiUYlQps0lEP1nSVf8bUeA-ouZjpF8J8IyJsIq0h_KmMH9XFJ4c33T3I9V-ZPIfm0ebwpcOAs6_-tYUAPquZkXTRt-IHfPqf90GrTUkCZgEk-D6-yxWfHQEEZLG4091/s1600/PINK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWVNe78KA4v85cBiUYlQps0lEP1nSVf8bUeA-ouZjpF8J8IyJsIq0h_KmMH9XFJ4c33T3I9V-ZPIfm0ebwpcOAs6_-tYUAPquZkXTRt-IHfPqf90GrTUkCZgEk-D6-yxWfHQEEZLG4091/s640/PINK.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's the point at which I start blubbering like a baby....but it was created to honor my daughters. Who are my favorite survivors of all. I want to be just like them when I grow up. </div>
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I created this piece awhile back and it was glazed over with a warm amber-y color that I used to use on all my paintings to age them. I've kind of grown past the need to make everything seem old so i got out my trusty can of Dragon Fruit Pink paint and went to town. I added some bright red polka dots to fun it up and my signature drips of paint and now I love it. </div>
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It symbolizes everything I want for my kids. "Nothing less than the best". </div>
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I hope you have enjoyed hearing the stories behind this collection. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-77466605359388360952013-09-19T09:48:00.002-05:002013-10-22T23:54:37.617-05:00Paint Like Me Parties! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just wanted to update some information about my new 'baby'...my new business, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paint-Like-Me-Party/584716448216649" target="_blank">"Paint Like Me Party!"</a>. Things are going really well and I feel like the biz is growing at a very manageable rate,especially given that I am still a (pretty much) full time Decorative Artist and (without a doubt!) full time mom of 4 teenage girls! But I've done some tweaking and I wanted to share with you.<br />
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<a href="http://paintlikemeparty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">First of all...all the information about "Paint Like Me Party!" is here</a>, in case you were wondering.<br />
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The news is that if you are in the Decatur/Warrensburg/Forsyth area, you can schedule to have your <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paint-Like-Me-Party/584716448216649" target="_blank"><b>Paint Like Me Party</b></a> in the art classroom at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theperfectpairantiques?hc_location=stream" target="_blank"><b>The Perfect Pair.</b></a><br />
This is a GREAT way to host a party and not have to worry about <i>a. cleaning your house </i>or <i>b. getting paint on anything.</i> (Not that you will get paint on anything, I just know how ladies like to worry) or <i>c. If you want to have a really big party, but don't have the space.</i> They are working on putting together a calendar of available dates and times for use of the classroom, but for now just contact me at chicpaint@gmail.com or by calling The Perfect Pair and 217-672-8822 to check availability. (Private parties held at TPP require a fee of 30.00 for use of the room) <br />
I love teaching in the big HUGE! BRIGHT! classroom with plenty of room to spread out.<br />
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Also, during our couple of breaks we will take, there is a beautiful boutique for you to explore and lots of fun, one- of- a- kind items to buy. Their stock is constantly changing, it's so much fun to shop there! <br />
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The second piece of news is that I had my first Couples' Class and it was a smashing success! I had an absolute ball, and I must say that the guys REALLY got in to it. In fact the one student I dubbed 'my star student', was a hubby. (Which I must say, he was a bit smug about ;)<br />
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The couples did an amazing job of working together to make sure their canvases looked similar enough to hang side by side. I was so impressed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkLQi3ovaEsnR1nxlNkV4OoZ04IBD5MXR3gAzYTPy334hcyW67fLx-KgIeFyK4nmW5SAXXIucA4v0hL3qsP2zBxRobCEMLzmh-RR76AgxXV05bQTsqBLHCz-Wo2V4_CqM7XdiKcI92f-c/s1600/couplescollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkLQi3ovaEsnR1nxlNkV4OoZ04IBD5MXR3gAzYTPy334hcyW67fLx-KgIeFyK4nmW5SAXXIucA4v0hL3qsP2zBxRobCEMLzmh-RR76AgxXV05bQTsqBLHCz-Wo2V4_CqM7XdiKcI92f-c/s400/couplescollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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* Can you guess which one was my 'star student'? No, you can't because EVERYONE'S turned out amazing! <br />
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And finally, there have been a few canvases added to the choices of what to paint. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.584717498216544.1073741824.584716448216649&type=3" target="_blank">So please, check the gallery at Paint Like Me Party's facebook page.</a> <br />
I am crazy in love with my 2 newest....The Autumn themed "Fifty Shades of Fall"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdb2JfQjZl0ySx8NH-1qwaXh9Hlahd6pqrr_q6biI99ZqasbkB5jZEl1UeteAcXB4u_CtqEbn9Z-JuDTEARLQwMV7fwJv4UMFqP9-h7OXfdhCGNve6Izw0fJAMQFWu9RUBMbOO9VKtPlJ/s1600/fiftyshades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdb2JfQjZl0ySx8NH-1qwaXh9Hlahd6pqrr_q6biI99ZqasbkB5jZEl1UeteAcXB4u_CtqEbn9Z-JuDTEARLQwMV7fwJv4UMFqP9-h7OXfdhCGNve6Izw0fJAMQFWu9RUBMbOO9VKtPlJ/s640/fiftyshades.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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and the Holiday themed "Vintage Joy". Both canvases have my signature HEAVY TEXTURE and lots of stuff going on in the background. 'Fifty Shades' has a background completely covered with silvery black mica flakes and 'Vintage Joy' has a sparkle paste that is crackled over a bright blue base. Fun fun! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwsGHDCXVjxlqt4nYouvWNugXLfiMKB2m1n8srUZq1dn3LVH4966BKIov5jFxfLtMh1ROZCf7mKrH5GC7LtoirN8YCxggdzb7Ggq36ITSDkZ9DuFr4QIUswLTUhf0OkGJfGNzKdIJFv4e/s1600/JOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwsGHDCXVjxlqt4nYouvWNugXLfiMKB2m1n8srUZq1dn3LVH4966BKIov5jFxfLtMh1ROZCf7mKrH5GC7LtoirN8YCxggdzb7Ggq36ITSDkZ9DuFr4QIUswLTUhf0OkGJfGNzKdIJFv4e/s400/JOY.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Both of these canvases also use an embedded technique (for the leaves and ornaments) that give a super crisp and graphic, can't- mess- it -up outline for the shapes. <br />
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My favorite newsy little bonus, is that my home studio was featured on the <a href="http://sjanephotography.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/punch-sizzle-decatur-il-custom-paintings-small-business-feature/" target="_blank">Sarah Jane Photography blog.</a> The day she came to visit, I was working on Fifty Shades of Fall, and you can see more detail shots<a href="http://sjanephotography.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/punch-sizzle-decatur-il-custom-paintings-small-business-feature/" target="_blank"> here! </a><br />
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I am crazy in love with the photo collages she created! Good things are happening here at Paint Like Me Party!!!<br />
Peace, Out! <br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-19700012927690708832013-09-09T20:32:00.001-05:002013-09-09T23:33:46.009-05:00Stir Sticks CollagesHey all! I had a ton of fun in my studio this week creating these stir stick collages....I had a custom order and decided to make a few more while I was at it. I knew my laziness (ie not cleaning off stir sticks after they are used) would come in handy someday. I LOVE these! I love the idea of making art out of stuff you have laying around in abundance....and painty stir sticks, I have many.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s_zWGz3BIUPkFLkhOTSUiOpIK_bZ6QVCJlM4G-k1lvoK26MbMuFikrLtHkFRFuS9quqgmbU2E34dziSmV1F14lyeMOHgOfIihYXY5uJsPPQGlI7_McaizbVi70SomE218FpsZstQq9sW/s1600/stirstickscollagewatermar,ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s_zWGz3BIUPkFLkhOTSUiOpIK_bZ6QVCJlM4G-k1lvoK26MbMuFikrLtHkFRFuS9quqgmbU2E34dziSmV1F14lyeMOHgOfIihYXY5uJsPPQGlI7_McaizbVi70SomE218FpsZstQq9sW/s400/stirstickscollagewatermar,ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Brights" 9x 11</div>
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"Black and White" 9 x11 (also has lots of sparkley silver!) </div>
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"Blues and Greens" 9x11</div>
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These three are for sale ("Brights", "Black and White" and "Blues and Green") <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151817219099043.1073741828.48273974042&type=1" target="_blank">through my facebook page. </a> Punch & Sizzle. Each 'painting' is 30.00 plus shipping and is framed without glass. While you're there, I'd love it if you would like my page (if...of course, you like what you see!) </div>
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You can even commission your own colorway! Custom colors are 35.00 (plus shipping) and are framed without glass. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-79284887030695805072013-08-07T13:16:00.000-05:002013-08-07T13:31:05.989-05:00Finally painted some Chevron! Finally had an opportunity to paint a Chevron feature wall, I've been <i>waaaaaaiiiiitiiinnggg</i>!!!<br />
One of my bestie bestest friends is expecting a baby girl in October and we will be Chevroning her nursery soon, but yesterday I got to chevron another baby room, in 2 shades of yummy pink!<br />
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There's all kinds of info all over the intertubes about how to do this, but I think you should let a professional do it for you. It's really mathy, and worky. So....just call someone who knows what they're doing. Here's the during, ready to be painted up!<br />
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And...AFTER!!!!<br />
Can't wait to receive photos of the room assembled. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-42564849594782107422013-08-07T11:39:00.001-05:002013-08-07T13:40:36.485-05:00Sometimes things need to be said....<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Being a professional artist isn't for wimps.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">HERE'S THE DEAL:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Many decorative artists have learned what they do through years and years and years of trial and error. Many of us have college degrees in Fine Art, or Applied Arts, Interior Design or Graphic Design. Oftentimes we have paid thousands of dollars to take product specific classes, thus keeping us informed on the latest and greatest techniques available for your beautiful home. Our entire lives are devoted to the pursuit of seeing beautiful things, filing away ideas for someday. Often our studios are filled with products just waiting for that perfect situation. Our bodies take a beating, plaster is heavy, ceiling work is difficult. Assembling scaffold is not for the weak. It takes an extraordinary amount of time to stay current on design trends. We swallow our fashion pride on a daily basis, to be covered in paint for you. Many of us have invested huge amounts of our lives to building a business, trying every type of marketing there is just to get that ONE job.....</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">And now we have to maintain webpages, fanpages, write blogs, pin photos. All of this takes time, ....all of this costs money.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">There is a price for admission into our world, and although our work is oftentimes magical....we do not just wave a magic wand. This job takes knowledge, unbridled creativity, guts, know-how,confidence,stamina,about a bazillion tools, and plain old HARD WORK. And sometimes MATH is involved!<i> I know I made it LOOK easy....that's because I know what I'm doing!!!!!</i></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I'll never understand the client who wants a professional artist to come into their home, but wants to pay no more than pennies a square foot. Flooring is many dollars a square foot, so is wallpaper, granite, cabinetry.....</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">CUSTOM means 'that's going to cost a little more than something you can just go buy in a store'.... Why are some people surprised by this? </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">That's why we make you sign on the line, to be sure you understand exactly what you are asking for.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Yes, yes, there is that small percentage of the 'artistic' population who does think they can just smear a little glaze around and get paid a bunch of money for it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">But most of us are busting our asses! For you to have the prettiest...</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">whatever</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">...We take pride in a job well done, we live for your approval! It may not be brain surgery but it matters to US!!! And we know it matters to you, or you wouldn't have asked us here in the first place.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I JUST WANT TO PAINT PRETTY THINGS!!!!.....</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">but I also want you to care. </i><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-19614461542980036552013-05-20T14:46:00.003-05:002013-05-21T16:23:22.373-05:00Bird Song Paint Like Me! classWell, due to overwhelming demand for a shorter, less 'serious' Paint Like Me class, I've added this canvas "Bird Song" to the class schedule. This canvas will be taught on Tuesday evening, June 11 from 6 to 8 pm<br />
in the art classroom at The Perfect Pair. The cost of this class is 50 dollars and includes all materials and the canvas (18 x 18 ) and 2 hours with Moi!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs-h49wLdhreqGFVRePUPF5RsWxpx0GaNy9MlivE3VWzKzJpPHPA8ez_W-hsRM99svAnPVdP3tLfSdC6OPzulYD2Js3wGj6jIxTWDnNjoCqR7RBcJwP-87ATbqbzpIQEVQuUpFzC28Lib/s1600/bird_paintlikeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs-h49wLdhreqGFVRePUPF5RsWxpx0GaNy9MlivE3VWzKzJpPHPA8ez_W-hsRM99svAnPVdP3tLfSdC6OPzulYD2Js3wGj6jIxTWDnNjoCqR7RBcJwP-87ATbqbzpIQEVQuUpFzC28Lib/s320/bird_paintlikeme.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Students will still get to create a high end looking masterpiece using unusual products. Such as (one of my favorites...MICA FLAKES!, shown below ) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMn98eCyP3vXQHbohF0emKdWIrKcXcgGdXCWtLxmNFEKnqNqRVNkrs35zn5m6OlAU4vdlYtqRQJP1bB2cKFlfJaTMu6ctsZDDYICEhuVjcZFOb0ShNI3BrSPgPjMdn2izIqsYab13Dp67/s1600/bird_upclose2_paintlikeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMn98eCyP3vXQHbohF0emKdWIrKcXcgGdXCWtLxmNFEKnqNqRVNkrs35zn5m6OlAU4vdlYtqRQJP1bB2cKFlfJaTMu6ctsZDDYICEhuVjcZFOb0ShNI3BrSPgPjMdn2izIqsYab13Dp67/s320/bird_upclose2_paintlikeme.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This canvas can be customized to be butterflies or dragonflies instead of the bird.<br />
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Again, you do not need ANY ARTISTIC ABILITY to excel in this class.<br />
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For our Tuesday evening classes, students MAY bring beer or wine and snacks of their choice. We will provide the cups, plates and ice. Yes, you will have to prove that you are 21!!!<br />
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All materials for this class are included in the price.<br />
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Students must bring a hairdryer to class. <br />
The cost of the class is for you only, no guests or children will be allowed, NO EXCEPTIONS.<br />
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Call "The Perfect Pair" to sign up for this class at 217-672-8822<br />
The Perfect Pair is located at 266 N State Route 121 in Warrensburg, IL.<br />
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Stay tuned! I will be adding other Tuesday night canvases! <br />
You can also book a private party for you and 11 of your closest friends!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-43053728368215499382013-05-20T12:56:00.001-05:002013-10-22T23:55:35.280-05:00Circus Style<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
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<b>I love hot pink and red together. I really need to get some new sofas in my living room, and while it is pretty low on my list of priorities right now, a girl can dream! I would LOVE to purchase a pair of hot pink velvet sofas like this one! (this one is from firstdibs, so probably a one of a kind). Being the owner of 3 male dogs, I love that the bottom portion of this sofa is unupholstered...(hope that's not oversharing, but boy dogs suck.) </b><br />
<b>In my dream with the hot pink sofas, I also have black and white striped curtains and a gigantic marquis letter that really lights up! </b><br />
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I also love chandeliers in a family room...I am loving this one by Ikea. The only problem I have with Ikea lighting,is usually the bulbs are teeny tiny. My FAVORITE exploding flower chandelier has one tiny fluourescent bulb in it. Totally useless for lighting the room. It's really more of 'ceiling sculpture'. But that's ok with me. That's what lamps are for!</b><br />
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Rounding out the scene is a<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/winters_kiss_reds_greens_face/thing?context_id=82764533&context_type=collection&id=81982294" target="_blank"> funky watercolor </a> by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CGallaFineArt?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">C Galla Fine Art on etsy. </a> I love that painting, it's whimsical but still has a little tension to it. </b><br />
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And of course in my dream, I have a new non leaky puppy named Jinx. </b><br />
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Happy Monday! </b></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-44819481594269282362013-05-08T16:42:00.002-05:002013-05-08T21:55:51.689-05:00Kitchen 'AFTER'!!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I finally got my kitchen all put back together and I am LOVING the results. It's so bright and happy in there, it *almost* makes me want to cook!<br />
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The uppers are SW Antique White and the lowers are SW Jet Stream, but I had them darken the color up, so I'm not really sure exactly what color they are now. You might notice the ceiling is painted a pale blue too. I really like how painting the soffit and the cabinet the same color really raised the ceiling. <br />
Remember the 'sad before'? It was all so chopped up and busy.....<br />
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I also got a super cute new rug ( which my dog is blending right into in the 'after' photo..) that is made out of recycled plastic water bottles. I love it, it's so easy to clean. The only 'caution' I would add is to not apply aerosol sun screen while standing on this plastic rug, unless you want to slip and fall and break your elbow.<br />
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~xo E Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-39460098740454895532013-05-01T23:06:00.001-05:002013-05-03T17:43:11.798-05:00paint like me<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
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I am super excited to announce that beginning on July 13, a dream of mine will come to fruition...I will begin teaching canvas classes for people who think they have some,little, or no artistic ability. If you just want to create some great art, these are the classes for you.<br />
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The Perfect Pair Antiques and Salon, In Warrensburg, IL has a huge new class room where I will be teaching. <br />
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I am going to be doing things a little differently from the typical learn to paint school or party.<br />
First of all, student will create L A R G E canvases...24x30 in most cases. And not only that, we will be painting on the thick 2" gallery wrapped canvases. That's the kind you see in a gallery and what distinguishes a professional from a hobbyist.<br />
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The old adage of 'the end result is only as good as your basecoat' applies here too. So we are starting with hefty, high end canvases to work with.<br />
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Most of the products that I will be teaching, will be products you've probably never used before. Things like Venetian Plaster, Wax, Leafs and Foils, Crackle paste, tiny glass beads, mica flakes and so on.<br />
To have the best results, we will be using only the best products.<br />
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You do not have to have ANY artistic ability...just a desire to create. I will take you step by step through each process as I show you how to use trowels, combs, and at times just our fingers.<br />
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The cost of each class is 195.00 per student and all you need to bring to class is yourself, dressed in your fabulous paint clothes, and whatever snacks and drinks you would want. We will provide the ice, cups and plates. (There will also be snacks available at an adjoining business, Board Knight, the game shop on the premises.)<br />
If you want to take both classes, there is a 25 $ discount for both.<br />
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Ok so here are the 2 classes being currently offered.<br />
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1. "Trees"<br />
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This class will employ the use of metallic paints, foils, Lusterstone and crackle paste. Students will learn how to paint simple and elegant trees with a flat brush and a ruler. Finger-painting will be involved.</div>
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This canvas has beautiful underlying texture and lots of shimmering, rich colors. </div>
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Detail of the texture.<br />
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2. "Abstract Chevron"<br />
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This class will create a gradient chevron design in neutral colors with Venetian Plaster, Lusterstone, Silver and GoldLeaf, Mica Flakes and tiny glass beads. <br />
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Class schedule is as follows :<br />
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Trees...Saturday, July 13 from 10 am to 1 pm<br />
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Abstract Chevron....Saturday, July 13 from 2 to 5 pm<br />
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Please email me at chicpaint@gmail.com if you want to be included in either class ( or if you're a fan on facebook, contact me there. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Punch-Sizzle-LLC/48273974042?ref=hl">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Punch-Sizzle-LLC/48273974042?ref=hl</a><br />
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A deposit of 75.00 is required to hold your spot. No guests or children will be allowed in class. <br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-163294465845744762013-04-23T16:03:00.003-05:002013-04-23T16:08:49.621-05:00Favorite color for the garden :Acid Yellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm in the mood for a party! We have had the grossest late Winter/early Spring ...YUCK! I just want sunshine and cocktails,baby! I am getting ready for a Graduation party, and I am in the process of foof'ing up the back patio. Today I found YARD FLAMINGOS on sale for 7 bucks for TWO! (at Rural King). Woo hoo! I've had my eye on them for a long time. <br />
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I think a garden should be an extension of the home it's attached to...so naturally I would have to funky/retro garden. My garden is pretty shady, so I like to use YELLOW and WHITE to bring spots of color to an otherwise mostly green space. I am really loving Acid Yellow this year. How fun are these vintage chairs available at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theperfectpairantiques" target="_blank">The Perfect Pair Antiques and Salon</a> ( in Warrensburg, IL) . I bet you thought you knew what liquid sunshine was? Wrong! It's hot yellow paint.<br />
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I am crazy about this <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/before-after/country-house-update-00418000074492/page2.html" target="_blank">hot yellow door</a>! It makes me rethink my jade green door. Hmm....</div>
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<a href="http://www.susancohangardens.com/blog/garden-design-details-painted-wood" target="_blank">How about this yellow trelli</a>s? Even something plain and simple becomes fab when painted a jazzy color! </div>
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I can't wait to pick out something in my garden to paint bright yellow! I like 'Yellow Flash' by Behr (shown below, darkest color.) (original source unknown) </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-38112763576717226742013-04-22T22:09:00.001-05:002013-04-22T23:56:14.237-05:00New counter top LOVE and kitchen remodeling progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My oldest daughter is graduating in May and there WILL be a party! In between teaching her various self defense techniques and crying in my tea wondering where the time has gone....I have been 'remodeling' my kitchen.</div>
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Ah...my kitchen. The smallest 4x6 patch of real estate in town. My house was built in 1954, when people didn't live in their kitchens ( I guess...) and it is T I N Y. Sometime in the 80s some wise homeowner knocked out a wall and at least created the illusion of space....Anyway....none of that is important except to say that I was HATING my kitchen and something really had to change. </div>
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I knew I had to repaint my cabinets, they were looking a little worse for the wear and they were super dark (blech!) so I decided to paint the uppers off white and the lowers powder blue. Since my cabinets would now be light, my counter top would have to be dark! </div>
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Fearing nothing, I started applying a Lusterstone finish right over the existing counter top.( I am a trained applicator of the following products, so I won't be giving ALL my secrets away). I just sponged and swirled and trowelled 3 shades : Ebony, Moonstone Gray and Snowflake White. I wanted the finish to have some movement, but not be spongy looking. I ended up with this Lava looking color. Sweet!!!<br />
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I added in some mother of pearl mica flakes, mirror chips and some iridescent glitter. (Cause I'm the glitter Queen)<br />
Finally, I applied 2 coats of resin, letting each one dry overnight. <br />
Here's the final look! I am looooooving it!!!!<br />
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I painted the walls Sherwin Williams Antique White and added this nifty new valance whipped up by my mom.<br />
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My children are wondering when in the heck we are getting the cabinet doors put back on....I have this terrible habit of starting a project and then getting distracted by some life sized shiny object (like work, or taxes...) As nothing is as productive as the last minute, I imagine they will be getting hung back up a few hours before the graduation party!<br />
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I almost forgot to show y'all....I painted my grandmother's buffet hot pink! After agonizing about what color to paint it, I decided I desperately needed a shot of crazy color, because my walls and floor are going to be all off white.<br />
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I chose Sherwin Williams 'Dragon Fruit' and added some fun turquoise knobs. (Some of the original knobs were missing.) I set up this little breakfast bar, which extends the area of the kitchen. )</div>
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I love my kitchen now! Can't wait for the party!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-66238082912710473312013-04-17T15:23:00.000-05:002013-04-26T16:33:28.078-05:00TotemsI do a lot of cabinet jobs. When I am painting or staining doors, I set them out on 2 parallel 2x4s. One day a client commented that my 2x4s looked like some cool art installation,what with all the streaks of various paints and stains on them. It gave me an idea....<br />
I've been sitting on this idea for a long time, but the perfect situation presented itself last week.<br />
One of my clients has accepted a transfer to another state (sadly, boo hoo!) . They have a very large, very beautiful home in a very depressed real estate market. They enlisted my help to get their house in tip top shape for selling.<br />
I noticed they have 2 alcoves on either side of their front door that were obviously designed to house some kind of artwork, but have been sitting empty as long as I've known them. <br />
"How about just some vertical strips of art for in there", I suggested. "Nothing too elaborate or pricey. Just a little kapow..."<br />
"Where are we going to find that?"<br />
<i>HELLO!!!!! </i><br />
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"I'll make them."<br />
"Well....You go, girl."<br />
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<i>(I assure you, these pieces ARE centered within their alcoves.) </i><br />
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I found my local Big Box store has thin maple boards that come in pre- cut lengths, these were perfect for my purposes. Thick enough to screw in a hook for hanging, but not so heavy to require heavy duty holes in the wall. <br />
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Sometimes our homes become kind of 'schizophrenic', especially if there have been a lot of moves in our pasts. This particular client has moved many many times from a ranch in Texas to a more stately home in the deep South...to the flat lands of Illinois. I wanted to tie in all of her things which range from Tuscan to Texas Ranch... and have them work together, so I just pulled colors from the adjoining rooms. I used only stripes of color and texture to create a truly 'transitional' piece of work. <br />
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Two years ago,I had the opportunity to change their built in book cases from a HIDEOUS yellow (SW Harvester. Sorry SW, that color is gross) to a distressed and textured 'salvaged' look. This built in faces the front door. The counter top sections were plain off white Formica. (egads!) I applied a crackled copper finish to those areas, so I knew I wanted to use the same copper plaster in the paintings. <br />
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Because I was working with Maple, I wanted to use the grain of the wood for some of my stripes. I started out by just painting on bands of gel stains in different colors. After that was dry, I taped off areas for some heavy duty crackle paste. I added in copper plaster and areas of copper and silver foils and a tiny bit of a teal metallic. (I won't give away <i>all </i>my tricks!) <br />
Lastly I taped off some stripes and applied tiny gold beads and bronze mica flakes. I have to have texture in my work. I could never sell something flat, I would just feel so <i>WRONG</i>.<br />
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Now that the pieces are installed, the client has ordered 3 more. HUGE ones for the stairwell wall.<br />
Yay! (Here they are on the studio floor, in progress.)<br />
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UPDATE!!!! Here are the 3 additional 'Totems' installed !<br />
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**I wanted to share some other work I have done in this home.<br />
These 3 armoirs were a pickled oak finish before I got hold of them. Using Modello stencil stickers and four different colors of gel stains, I created a faux, inlaid wood look which took a million years but looks like a million bucks. I am really proud of this project, it has to be one of my favorite furniture transformations.The clients were so happy too they overpaid me. <br />
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Here's an upclose of the completed door fronts.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-56273498088016039312012-11-29T23:43:00.000-06:002012-11-29T23:46:30.315-06:00Decking the Halls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yay! My favorite time of year...the time of year when glitter everywhere is welcomed and not ostracized! I love decorating for Christmas ( and glitter) and here's what I've done in my own home so far.<br />
I try to do something different every year at Christmas time with my decor, which has given me a attic crammed full of Christamas 'stuff'. I organize my ornaments in boxes by colors, and this year I pulled out the pink and purple ones for the sunroom tree. This skinny tree is what I usually call the "Girls' Tree", and I mix in a lot of their hand made and sentimental value ornaments. Of course we had to add in purple and pink lights! <br />
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I really don't like tree skirts much at all, so I use hat boxes and gift wrapped empty boxes nestled around the base of the tree instead. I have had those hatboxes for many years and they are a great way to store the really breakable 'priceless' ornaments. <br />
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Last year I made this ribbon light garland by just tying on lengths of several fabrics directly onto a strand of lights. Thank you Pinterest! That was a super easy and fun project and as I recall all of us girls worked on it during a Law & Order episode.<br />
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I have to talk about the mantle, because I am in love with it! This area of my house gives me fits and I am constantly fiddling with it. I'm trying not to buy any new Christmas stuff this year, since, you know...I have that attic full of stuff...but I really wanted something dramatic for the mantle. The other day I went on a consultation and my client had a garbage can sitting on her curb full of Red Dogwood sticks. Hello! DRAMATIC RED STICKS!!!! I like to think that God gave me those! God and Lola Underwood and the Law of Attraction ! <br />
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I think they look great in the clear glass vases with sparkley, multi colored vase fillers. I added the mod stars and the sweet reindeer and sprinkled over the whole thing with fake snow. <br />
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(pssst! they have these star ornaments at Big Lots in a box for 4 bucks! Run!) <br />
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The pink glitter trees have a new home this year next to the cake stand full of vintage ornaments. In my former married life, I spent every Saturday morning garage sale-ing ...I have a TON of vintage ornaments. These itty bitty ones are my faves. I added in a few disco balls...because we have disco balls all.over.the.house.<br />
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This is my AWESOME new chandelier, which was another God gift. I really wanted a chandelier just like this one for a very long time. I saw the original Calvin Klein design in a client's home and just swooned. After searching high and low and online, for like THREE YEARS, I had about given up on finding an affordable version, when I spotted this clearanc-ed out, floor model at Lowe's for...would you believe 50 dollars? It's hung extra low over my table, which will probably make my brother nuts...<i>if he ever comes to visit me</i>!<br />
Just to keep with my "I"m kind of a cheapskate" theme...I have to mention that the monofilament used to tie these silver snowflakes on was donated to me by a client who was cleaning out her craft room. "<i>Can you use this fishing line for anything</i>?" <br />
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You might wonder what Buddah has to do with Christmas. Well, Jesus was a Buddah. So there you go. Yes he does make sense there.<br />
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Last weekend I went to an upcycled craft store in St. Louis. After digging through piles of old greeting cards, I found this cute little guy from the early 60s. LOVE!!!!<br />
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Not only do I have a zillion vintage ornaments ( from garage sales) I also have a zillion strands of beaded garlands (from various places,including garage sales). I shoved a bunch of them inside the glass cloche and I rather like it and it adds a fun shot of festive to the otherwise black and white vignette. <br />
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Sometimes I make stuff to sell and then I can't let it go. I love love love the glittered peace sign and it keeps my crackled blue kitchen hutch from looking too shabby. <br />
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I told you I have beaucoups of ornaments!....here they are on the snack bar with a groovy santa/chef that I've had for years. He cracks me up, I love him.<br />
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Stay tuned, for this weekend...the living room gets the Holiday treatment! <br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-18413962692245284712012-11-09T10:57:00.002-06:002012-11-29T22:17:33.070-06:00Christmas Open House....and how I design paintings<br />
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It's hard to believe the Holiday Season is upon us. Christmas just keeps getting closer and closer to Halloween it seems!<br />
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I've been busy preparing for the 2nd annual "The Perfect Pair" pre-holiday shopping extravaganza! If you attended last year, and you plan on going this year, you will be amazed at how much more stuff there is to fancy up your home.<br />
Wanda and her team of artists have been packing the showroom full of funky furniture creations and now there are several vendors with products for sale year round. This year there will be cupcakes, jewelry, the ever popular lazy susans, goat milk soaps, my paintings and a bunch of other unique gift items! There's also a huge warehouse full of vintage furniture that you purchase to create something fun of your own. <br />
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Last year, I created a whole bunch of huge paintings.<br />
This year, I'm keeping it small.<br />
I think this time of year is all about gift giving, not big time decorating. So I've designed a fun little 'collection' that is all about inspiring words, sparkle and of course my favorite 'black and white'. (and pink...)<br />
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Awhile back I saw a photo of the way Kelly Wearstler works. She creates inspiration 'trays' instead of boards. I realized that I work in this way too. I start with a canvas and a general idea. After the canvas has had it's background textures applied, I start piling on the 'stuff' that I want to use on it: papers I like, glitter, broken jewelery, certain colors...whatever!<br />
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This way I can see how ideas and colors are going to work together and it helps me streamline my design. Also I can move elements around and get a feel for where they should live permanently.<br />
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These are the infant canvases I am working on today.<br />
I also find that photographing my work in progress really helps me figure out what's going right or wrong.<br />
For example with the 'think/believe' set...I feel like the two polka dotted circles look like a child's car so I'm going to have to re-think that concept!<br />
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I've also never done 'seasonal' canvases before so creating winter themed work is a new one for me. I'm really excited and I hope if you are local that you can attend this year's show!<br />
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<b>The Perfect Pair Antiques and Salon </b><br />
<b>November 16 & 17, 2012</b><br />
<b>10 am to 4 pm</b><br />
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<b>Located at : 266 N. State Rt. 121</b><br />
<b>Warrensburg IL</b> <br />
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**Update<br />
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Here are some photos of the completed paintings from this show<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-37530337061739487332012-10-22T14:18:00.001-05:002012-10-22T14:18:05.973-05:00Master Bedroom <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've never shown my master bedroom before, mainly because I feel like it is missing something. When I was still married, I had cocoa brown venetian plaster and purple and wine colored bedding. It was all very dark and dramatic but after a friend of mine informed me that I was morally obligated to change the bedroom COMPLETELY after divorce...I picked out things I liked, just for me. The new bedding is a start. My mother made this amazing subway tile quilt for me out of 16 different fabrics that I selected. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQY0xXT33LkkOf50dMotCxLYHwazCeoygA3ct1dBHyXGv5tgxPr2_F2oq5EvPm_iU98AREYhlYGRZjhgyyMut9U-0zIAatiIGv79AwQY78RZRNPZlIVIh4k22cjFD0CESeg3AlDIxM4AL/s1600/my+bed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQY0xXT33LkkOf50dMotCxLYHwazCeoygA3ct1dBHyXGv5tgxPr2_F2oq5EvPm_iU98AREYhlYGRZjhgyyMut9U-0zIAatiIGv79AwQY78RZRNPZlIVIh4k22cjFD0CESeg3AlDIxM4AL/s640/my+bed.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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This is one of my paintings, it's my favorite I think. I had it for sale in a boutique for awhile, but I retrieved it because I missed it. I based the whole painting on this little guy I found in Smithsonian magazine. He inspired me..he seems so happy and ready for the weekend! (as am I!) So the painting is entitled "TGIF".<br />
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This silhouette painting was created by my friend Mark Koch. I've know Mark since grade school and he has always been an incredible artist. His work is amazing...so crisp and flawless. He made this painting for me a couple of years ago and I absolutely love it. I love his funky and slightly unsettling style...see more of his work here <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drinkabutter">http://www.flickr.com/photos/drinkabutter</a><br />
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<br />I just found that the name of this painting is "Sisters". How perfect is that? (I have 4 daughters.) Speaking of daughters, one of mine says my bedroom looks like it belongs to a 12 year old. I don't care, I like what I like. <br />
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Seeing photos of my room, really makes me want to add something to the wall behind my bed. <br />
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I am thinking something like this... (by Kristin F. Davis) !<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-30605745516873459382012-10-18T01:31:00.002-05:002012-10-18T01:37:21.198-05:00Embracing Gray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems like about once a year a new client comes into my life who says to me "Just do whatever YOU think is best..." and then they give me a whole bunch of projects and I do whatever I think is best. These kinds of projects are when I just LOVE my job and I feel like the most blessed person on the planet.<br />
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This year, it is J and M who have given me carte blanche all over their beautiful new home. Most of the projects I have done for them, have been in their black/gray/chrome and MODERN lower level. I have been DYING to do some gray projects after nearly 15 years of beige.... so I was so happy and excited the first time I saw their swanky lower level with it's gray floor tiles and incredible bar area with the chrome pressed tin ceiling! <br />
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Here are some of the gray based projects I have completed. <br />
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In the above shown bar area, I created a finish I call 'Rough Linen' to flank either side of the bar. This finish had to coordinate with the modern lighting, as well as the unusual chrome ceiling. I wanted the walls to whisper, not shout, so I created a silver/gray textured finish that was topped off with rough cut Mica flakes. This is a great transitional finish that would work with just about any style of decor. It's a great mix of rough and tumble and sparkle. <br />
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Across the room, in the Poker area...I transformed a 'preppy' cherry wood poker table set complete with leather and studded library style chairs. Ta Da! <br />
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Using animal skin textures, I created a modern finish for the table top, which was overglazed with silver. The entire set was painted black and the studs were changed from bronze to hologram silver using foils. I am really proud of this finished result and the clients loved it too. All they need to do is change the casters from brass to chrome and the transformation will be complete! (yes, they plan to do that).<br />
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I painted the pool table to match! And added zebra feet for a little extra punch and sizzle.<br />
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***While we are on the topic of painting furniture, I just wanted to let potential clients know that I sand and prime and topcoat everything for a very durable finish. I shudder when I remember an article about a home I worked in, in which I was 'quoted' as saying that I applied my textures with drywall mud! SHOCK AND HORROR! I use only high quality proprietary products for the most durable and long lasting finishes. I promise. *** <br />
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The walls in this area needed to have some 'oomph' but also needed
to be a background for the main focus of this room, which is having
fun! I designed an overlapping squares application of Venetian Plaster.
I tinted the plaster to a pale gray shade and trowelled in on in
overlapping squares, leaving a raised ridge on one edge of each square.
Once the plaster was dry, I burnished it heavily to put a sheen and
carbon stain on the raised ridges. <br />
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I love the type of finish that people can't figure out how it was created! The shiny edges and the cool stone feel of these walls really have people baffled. Love that! <br />
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Funny how some projects evolve...my clients asked to 'do something' about a bad color choice in the exercise room. What I ended up doing became quite the production and granted it would have been 100 times easier to just repaint the room, but my clients trusted me to come up with something really exciting for this large, utilitarian room. And they didn't 'hate' the color, there was just too much of it. <br />
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While I like to say 'there are no bad colors' and I do really love this Tiffany Blue (the original basecoat) ...but 4 walls of it was pretty eye-ball frying and needed toned done considerably. <br />
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After talking with the clients, we came up with this overlapping squares and rectangles idea. I started this project by painting huge squares of a sheer Pearl finish. Working my way from lightest to darkest, I created smaller and smaller rectangles and squares of metallic colors. This took a very long time and miles of tape, but everyone is happy with the end results. (the trim has now been painted black). While in the photograph the squares read brown, they are actually varying shades of a warm silver, metallic taupe, pearl and black metallic. <br />
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My final 'gray' project in this home is in their daughter's bedroom. I had applied this finish in their prior home, and the daughter requested that I duplicate it.<br />
This is one of my most popular finishes, I call it the Gum Wrapper Finish.<br />
It's layers of silver foil over crushed tissue paper. Yummy!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-16631425917905135842012-10-10T20:57:00.002-05:002012-10-10T23:13:23.026-05:00A 'new' room for Nina....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My eldest daughter is going off to college in a matter of mere months. I feel the weight of her impending loss daily. "<i>This is the last October 9th we will spend together for awhile.</i>..." "<i>This is the last Law & Order SVU Pedophiles and Puppies Marathon we will watch together for awhile.</i>..." It seems like just yesterday she was asking "Mommy, was there a recipe for this?". <br />
In honor of her last several months at home, I am re-doing her room. Just in time for it to become a guest bedroom. Poor Nina. She's so patient.<br />
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Most of my house is modern or at least retro. I'm not really 'in' to Shabby,chippy or glazed over with brown. But my daughter LOVES this look. But the girl who loves THIS: <br />
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(and unicorns) Also loves THIS:<br />
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(That's her trashcan. On a mirrored table from the 70s.) <i>Hmm....what's a mother to do? </i> I personally think Shabby Chic can be rather formulaic, and I am wracking my brain for ideas how to make this room HER with a little bit ME too.<br />
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This summer I DID manage to get one wall covered with antique book pages. Her room smelled like a library for months.<br />
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For this project, find about 3x as many books as you think you will need. I like the fact that we found books that have some drawings in them. Also, many books do not have chapter titles going across the top of the pages, but I found some that do. I bought them just for the chapter titles. Some of them are hilarious such as : <i>Pirates and Secretaries </i> and <i>They Dress for Dinner</i>. <br />
Initially I had read instructions for creating this look that recommended blue painter's tape. <i>WRONG</i>!!! You need double sided tape. Lots and lots of double sided tape. If you use blue painter's tape, half your pages will we sunbathing on the floor in the morning. I bought a huge roll of double sided tape at Lowe's that was in the aisle with the shrink wrap window film. It's much cheaper that way and I STILL have some left over. Another piece of advice, while old books are super cool, if the pages are starting to crumble, pass on the book. No tape will adhere to something that brittle. <br />
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I didn't use a level line or any 'method' other than working from the bottom up. My BFF Becca helped me with this project and I must say...while I started out adhering the pages in a rather OCD kind of way, she was rather slapping them on which is not only a hilarious role reversal, but funny because I ended up liking the slap dash look better, so that's what we went with. <br />
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I bought Nina an awesome antique sleigh bed, last November. But it's red. And it needs to be pink. Since I am the most 'distracted by shiny objects' person you could care to meet, it has been sitting in the garage untouched since I bought it.(Right next to her piano). This Bombay chest has the look I am going for with the bed, the existing dresser and the new 'antique' dresser and mirror. I was sooo going to jump on the chalk paint craze, then I found out that it's a <i><b>ton</b></i> of work. Like a ton more than painting furniture is anyway. I think I'll stick with what I know. <br />
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Anyway, I have a lot to do.<br />
I really need to find some awesome ruffled curtains that don't remind me of THIS:<br />
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Gah! I think these will do.<br />
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I snapped this photo of a wig shop window when I was in LA this summer. I would really love to have this printed on canvas. I think it sums up Nina so well, a bit Marie Antoinette, a bit retro scary movie, a bit long luxurious brunette hair, a bit of family history....<br />
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I think I've got it....so we need....old books , antique pink dresser, Shabby Chic bedding, ruffles that won't give me flashbacks, a little bit of disco, a little bit of Seedy Underworld, a couple of loyal dogs thrown in the mix and Voila! <br />
<b>We agree</b>!!!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333043563263528917.post-87185046340706015552012-10-09T09:42:00.002-05:002012-10-10T23:11:58.975-05:00Black and White Halloween Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Haloween! It's official, I've gotten out the decorations. I usually have to sit on my hands waiting for the first of October because I don't want to have my Halloween stuff out longer than my Christmas stuff (it seems like an insult to Jesus.)<br />
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This year I decided to keep with the black and white theme in my house for my Halloween decor. <br />
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I found this awesome banner at Target for 4 bucks! I love it and it adds so much charachter to the sun room!<br />
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<i> OOOH!!!! AHHHH! 'Farkles! I love anything sparkely! </i><br />
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You might also notice my butterfly explosion. I made this out of black construction paper and straight pins. All I did was print out a page of 'butterfly silhouettes' that I found on google, this was my template for my butterflies.<br />
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I cut out multiples of each butterfly out of plain old black construction paper and nailed them to the wall with a straight pin. Each butterfly is 'hovering' away from the wall at the end of the pin. That way, they cast a shadow and look like they are in flight. <br />
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This was a quick and easy project, I cut out the butterflies while watching TV and spent about 20 minutes nailing them to the wall. I traced around a large dinner plate onto the wall and used that as a guide for placement. All the butterflies 'fly' out from that circular center point. One of my daughters really wants me to swap these out for bats, but I think the black butterflies are 'creepy' enough. <br />
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These black and white striped lantern lights were my one 'splurge' this year. Only 14.00 at Target, I'm sure they will stay up year round. I hope to snag some more when Halloween goes on Clearance! (they also have purple disco ball/lights that I am dying for!!!!)<br />
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Have I ever mentioned this "Thank you for your patronage" sign that was in my shop when I bought it? I love it so much it's ridiculous. <br />
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<a href="http://www.chicpaint.blogspot.com/2012/05/corners-of-my-home.html" target="_blank">My dining room sets the stage for my entire house</a>. It's my favorite room and the most 'me'. It's the room with the black and white striped table, sitting center stage. I started 'merchandising' my gray hutch with this fun "I Married a Dead Man" paperback book that I've had for ages, and added my black hand ring holder and a funky gray pumpkin.<br />
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A few clear glass vessels of dollar store spider rings adds a lot of punch for little bucks. <br />
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I swapped out some of my photos for vintage Halloween images, like this fun witch!</div>
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I like fun little surprises tucked here and there. In the guest bath, glass pumpkins dance around the vessel sink. Everyone loves this and wants to know where I got the pumpkins. They are originally from a home decor party and came with a tall vase, which has been broken for year. I don't know why, but the pumpkins just seem perfect for the koi pond sink. </div>
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Not everything has to scream "HALLOWEEN" though... like this little glittered pumpkin on a grey cheveron'd chair. I have several of these glittered pumpkins that I picked up at the Dollar Store a few years ago. They were originally orange, but a coat of silver spray paint really dressed them up. I was given this chair for free from jobsite where I was painting. A coat of hammered pewter spray paint and a fresh new seat cover jazzed it up and gave it some personality! </div>
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I'm not the type of person to , nor am I in the position to run out and buy a bunch of stuff when I'm decorating. I have to use what I have, re-purpose things and hunt for bargains. But that's what leads to the 'accumulated' look that I'm so fond of! </div>
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Happy Halloween! </div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328606840042826568noreply@blogger.com0