Monday, July 30, 2012

Meet Pure White: My Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Color Review

  Hello Everyone,


Welcome to a new blog series dedicated to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors.

View more color reviews on my Review Page.

Here is my disclaimer:
I am not an official Annie Sloan Stockist. I work and sell at a store that carries the paint and I LOVE painting with it. These are my thoughts and my thoughts only. Proceed at your own risk. ;)

Pure White...where do I start...

I am not normally a person who paints in white. I enjoy layering and colors. 

I do swoon over the all-white rooms in magazines or on Pinterest and I wish I could live in them for a while. Then I look over at my 3 dogs and snap back to reality.

I painted in Pure White as a custom order. It was not on my immediate list of new colors.


I had heard things like:


"Put it in the fridge to thicken it."


"Prime with Old White."


"It is water thin."


Well...here is my review:
Pure White with Clear Wax



Color: Pure White


Coverage: Fair to Good: It is MUCH better than I was anticipating. It is definitely a 2 coater on most pieces. I did not prime this piece. I shellaced it to seal it but this is 2 coats over a dark wood. I am interested in trying it on a piece that is a little more natural than this one. It could be even more fantastic on untouched wood. It covers similarly to Antibes.

Great Pairings: Oh, I would love to use it with Paris Grey and heavily distressed! It will also look great with Coco, Paloma, Duck Egg and French Linen. I have also seen it as a wash and it was lovely.

Would I use this again?: Yes but sparingly. Because of my style, I probably won't use it on a large piece again. However I will use it as an accent, a wash or with a stencil.

Clear or Dark: Clear but I am interested in seeing it with a dark wax. That might make it more my style.

Final Thoughts: This is absolutely a trickier color to use. Is it impossible? No. Would I recommend it as someone's first ASCP purchase? No. Does it achieve that Shabby look? Yes! It is a lovely color.

I would shellac your piece really well before painting. It will save you some heartache. I would also use 2 (or 3) thinner coats instead of a thick coat. My first coat was too thick and it crackled a bit.

Here is a glimpse of what other's have done with Pure White.

I love this pairing! Look at how the detail pops!
Artist: Jennifer at Town and Country Living

Passion for Decor is a new blog that I came across and I am so glad I did! Love her stuff!
 Artist: Melody at My Passion for Decor


 I really hope this review helps you in choosing the right paint color for you.

 Thanks for stopping in. :)


FYI...I purchase my Chalk Paint from Carter's Cottage. :)




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A Whimsical Makeover: The Shabby Dresser Edition

I love a good custom order piece. A custom order allows me to get out of my comfort zone a bit. This piece was no exception.

I picked up this dresser from "a guy I know". In this business it is important to "know a guy".


I knew exactly who to offer it too first.


I had been working with a customer that wanted a dresser for her young daughters room. This was the perfect dresser. Just enough detail to achieve that Shabby look.  


Here is where the "comfort zone" thing comes in...she wanted Pure White (color review).  This was not a color I had used before. I was a bit nervous to do a bright white because it is such a foriegn color to me.


However, I am glad that I did because I love how it turned out.

 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White with Clear Wax.
 I sealed this piece with Shellac before painting and I am glad I did. The previous stain job was tricky to cover is certain spots.
I'll bet you didn't notice the details in the "before" picture.
I lovely shade of purple adds a bit of hidden color. Just perfect for a little girl.

Thanks for stopping by!


 

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

And the winner is...

The winner of the Toft Touch Soaps Giveaway is Anne from White Lace Cottage!

If you are interested in purchasing soaps, visit my 
or
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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Spaces in My House

As I am sitting here this morning, trying to get the energy to start cleaning the house, I am noticing spaces in my house that I love. 


Here is a quick tour of some small spaces in my house that make me smile.
1. My new kitchen nook. I love that this broken vintage wooden box helped me organize my space in a pretty way. Oh and yes...my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint painted cabinets.

 2. The Chalkboard my husband designed. This was the perfect solution to some dead space.
 3. A drawing and pottery display. I purchased the drawing from a local artist and the pottery was made by students at the Kaneland High School. They are the perfect color for my house and I love them!
 4. One of my favorite "nook and cranny" spaces. ASCP Cream antique mirror, old wooden box (obsession) and a little glass display bowl.
 5. My new platter display. I have been collecting platters for a few months and I love the way they are displayed now. I got this plate rack from my mom. It didn't work with her dishes but it fits mine perfectly. My favorite is the dark and crackly one. :)
 6. Last but not least is my office nook. I love this desk that I purchased at the flea market. The chair from Sycamore Antiques is a perfect fit. The ASCP painted mirror is from my parents and the vintage stool was a recent garage sale find. I have another vintage stool that I had been using but I am trying out the yellow one for a change in color.
Thanks for visiting. :)



 
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Friday, July 27, 2012

Meet Duck Egg: My Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Color Review



 Hello Everyone,


Welcome to a new blog series dedicated to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors.

View my more color review on my Review Page.

Here is my disclaimer:
I am not an official Annie Sloan Stockist. I work and sell at a store that carries the paint and I LOVE painting with it. These are my thoughts and my thoughts only. Proceed at your own risk. ;)

Let me start by saying that Duck Egg is my favorite color. It is the perfect shade of muted turquoise. I can't get enough of this color. When I paint with it, I giggle just a bit every time. :)  


If you are looking for a negative review of Duck Egg, this is not the site. Enjoy!

Duck Egg and Old White with Clear Wax. Antiquing stain applied.
Duck Egg and Old White Dry Brushed - Clear Wax
Duck Egg with Clear Wax

Duck Egg, Provence and Old White Dry Brushed with Clear Wax

Duck Egg with Clear Wax

Duck Egg with Clear Wax

Color: Duck Egg


Coverage: Excellent  - Most of these pieces were covered in 1 coat. The buffet was the only one that took 2 coats. The buffet was my 2nd ever ASCP project. If I did it again today, it would be one coat. This color has the best coverage by far!

Great Pairings: Beautiful with Old White, Coco, Country Grey, Graphite...Even Napoleonic Blue!
 
Would I use this again?: Yes and A Lot!

Clear or Dark: Clear. I am a traditionalist when it comes to Duck Egg. The Dark Wax turns it to a greenish shade. Why mess with a good thing. :)
 
Final Thoughts: This is a perfect 1st color to choose. It is easy to use, matches most decors and is an absolute showstopper. Anything we paint in this color flies out of the store! If you are putting together your first paint order, try this:
Duck Egg
Old White
Clear Wax
You will be happy.


Thanks for stopping in. :)


FYI...I purchase my Chalk Paint from Carter's Cottage. :)




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I would like to thank the Academy...The Versatile Blogger Award

I received an e-mail a few days ago from Jeanne at Perfect Imperfections telling me that she was awarding me with The Versatile Blogger Award! Happy day!



It is so nice to be recognized for the hard work I put into my blog. It is extra nice to be recognized by someone with a blog that I follow and love!

She does some amazing work with furniture. This is one of my favorite pieces by Jeanne:
I love the colors and distressing. :)

OK.  Here are the rules for the award:

1.  Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2.  Include a link to their site.
3.  Include award image on your post.
4.  Include award image on your blog site.
5.  Give 7 random facts about yourself.
6.  Nominate 15 other people for the award and tell why they were nominated.
7.  Include links to the site of bloggers nominated.
8.  Notify the bloggers you have nominated.

Items 1, 2, 3, & 4 - Done

7 Random Facts About Me

1. My husband is my high school sweetheart and we just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.

2.  I reread at least 1 Harry Potter book every summer.

3.  I am also an extremely dedicated 1st grade teacher. I jump out of bed every morning, excited to go to work because it is my true calling. 
4. I have serious texture issues. Can't touch: pewter, frosted glass, crunchy snow...

5. I have a sister that lives too far away and I miss her. 

6.  I never walk barefoot.

7.  I have a house full of animals: 3 Dogs and 2 Cats

And Now for My Nominees 


1. East Street Design - Fabulous Furniture
2. Leisure Living - Fabulous Furniture
3. My Passion for Decor - Fabulous Furniture
4. The Salvage Collection - Breaking Furniture Boundaries.
5. Town and Country Living - Great Decor and House Walks
6.Turn Style Vogue - Inspiring Pieces
7.Clutter Free Classroom - Fantastic Organization for teachers
8. A Ruffled Nest - A Friend and Fabulous Blogger
9.Bad Rabbit Vintage - Fun and Decorative Painting
10. Mod Vintage Life -  I love the Open House Sunday Feature
11. Sophia's - Great Glazing Tips
12. West Furniture Revival - Great Monday Features

13-15. Yet to be discovered!
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Goat Milk Soap - Toft Touch Soaps


Visit my Toft Touch Soap page for more information on one of my favorite products. 

Don't forget about the Giveaway!!!
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

An Announcement

I am very excited to announce that I will be your online location for Toft Touch Soaps.  Donna Toft and I are collaborating in an effort to make her soaps available to more people.

For those of you who have followed my blog from the beginning, you know that I am not only a fan of Toft Touch Soaps but I am a fan of Donna Toft (owner) herself.

 It is not often that you get to buy a quality product made by an amazing person but that is exactly what you get from Toft Touch Soaps.

 Donna's philosophy on her business is simple in concept but hard to translate to people who have not met Donna or experienced her soaps. All she wants is to make a high quality product that she can feel good about. Donna is all about her customers. She cares about our skin and wants to actively make our lives better with her products.

 Donna did not start a business to make a million dollars. She started it because she is passionate about her product and it's qualities. She has been in the soap business for 12 years. Her product is tried, tested and proven to be fantasic.

 A Local Luxury.

 Here is why I like Donna's products:
1. She is local (for me). I really enjoy purchasing locally. 
2. I trust her with my hair and skin. My skin "freaked" out when we moved into our new house and she was able to tell me exactly what I needed to use to help even me out.
3. My skin cleared up very shortly after beginning to use her product. (Same for my husband, sister, multiple friends...)
4. She milks her own goats twice a day to be able to supply us with an amazing product.
5. Last but not least...Donna is an amazing person. She has a warmth about her that immediately draws you in.

Here is a bit about my day with Donna and the Goats. (Special Guest, My Friend Mary)

 First on the agenda. Love on the goats!


Mary made a friend.

 Second, check out the chickens:
Then, to the garden:

Donna had Mary's full attention when it came to gardening topics.
Last but not least, some shopping!
We had a great day. Both Mary and I were beaming when we got back into the car. Just wonderful.



Linking to:
Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays
http://restoreinteriors.com
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Rainy Day Redo- The Pantry

When we moved into our new (old) house, we were amazed by the amount of storage space.


"We will never fill this up!", we once said.


Ha! We all learned that that wasn't true when we showed you the garage.

Well, our pantry had a similar problem. Stuff with no order.


Exhibit A:


So I started by hauling everything out of the pantry and placing it into "like" groups.


Yep, Bruce (the dog) stood by the dog section the entire time. I think he was worried I might throw out his treats.


The I started thinking about how to organize. I had purchased these used storage bins at a garage sale that morning.
 

Well, about an hour later, I had a beautiful new and organized pantry.



Occasionally, I will wish for one of those beautiful pantries with coordinating bins and clear jars holding flour and sugar. They seem so calming and beautiful. 


However, practicality takes over and this reorganization and transformation cost me $3 in bins from a garage sale. I used a cardboard fruit box to house our collection of plastic bags and it works wonderfully.


FYI, I did this makeover last Thursday and it still looks like this! :)
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Monday, July 23, 2012

My Weekend Treasures

On Sunday, my neighbor Mary and I headed off to the Sandwich Antique Market.  A local shop owner was selling some of her items and I really like purchasing from her. I thought I would give this market a try.


I had read some reviews online that said it is a shadow of what it once was. They were right. It was very small compared to other flea market is the area. However, I greatly enjoyed it. 


I didn't purchase any large furniture because it is an Antique Market which means high prices but some seriously quality stuff. I did, however, purchase a good amount of smalls. 


Here is my stash:
Amazing wooden folding chairs!

Details and poppy seed grinder. I love this color.

Great table, vintage stapler, hardware and letter "B". The "B" is for me. :)


Unique Pulley. I hadn't seen one quite like this so I bought it up. :)

Antique Straight Edge Ruler - Stamped 1923 - So Cool!!!

This would be perfect attached to a doorway as a way to measure the little ones growing up. :)
 Not pictured: A putter forged and stamped at St. Andrews. This was a gift for the husband. It might go on the wall in his office. 


 So, the Sandwich Antique Market:
If you are looking for it to be like Kane County, you will be disappointed.
If you are looking for cheap furniture, you will be disappointed.


I was happy because it was close, parking was EASY and I purchased items I am really happy with. I saw things at Sandwich that I hadn't seen at other places. There were many other items I wanted to take home but my money bag was too light. :)

Thanks for stopping by.

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Meet Old White: My Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Color Review



 Hello Everyone,


Welcome to a new blog series dedicated to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors.

View my more color review on my Review Page.
 
Here is my disclaimer:
I am not an official Annie Sloan Stockist. I work and sell at a store that carries the paint and I LOVE painting with it. These are my thoughts and my thoughts only. Proceed at your own risk. ;)

I would like to start out by saying that Old White is a staple of my paint cabinet. It is like the little black dress or great pair of jeans. 

If I run out of this color, I start to panic.  I use it straight from the can, with both waxes, as a wash, mixed with wax, as an accent and so much more.

Here we go:

Old White with Clear Wax
Old White with Dark Wax

Old White as an Accent
Color and Wax: Old White shown with Clear and Dark Wax


Coverage: Good to Excellent  - I have had some cans that cover in 1 coat and others that cover in 2.  One of the better covering paints.

Great Pairings: This is used a lot with Duck Egg, French Linen, Antoinette and Olive. 

Would I use this again?: Yes and A Lot!

Clear or Dark: I am not really a "white" girl so I do prefer this with dark wax. However, it is lovely both ways.
 
Final Thoughts: If you are contemplating trying Annie Sloan for the first time, this is a color I would purchase first. It is easy to use, distresses beautifully and goes with everything. We use it on antique frames as part of our large accent wall.


Thanks for stopping in. :)


FYI...I purchase my Chalk Paint from Carter's Cottage. :)




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A Whimsical Makeover: The Rustic Dresser (part 2)




I love rustic. Something beautiful but not perfect. Something hard but not uncomfortable. 


That is my style. 



I have painted a few of my favorite things in this rustic style. (see Rustic Dresser part 1).

This dresser is my style. :)


The sides and top of this dresser are in fantastic condition but the drawers were another story. The veneer was coming off in chunks. It was very sad. However, the dresser was well taken care of by the previous owner because all of the drawers are clean and run smoothly.


Here is my painting philosophy. If the wood is pretty, don't paint it.  That is what I did with this one. :)




I painted this piece with ASCP Old White followed with Clear Wax and a Heavy Dark Wax. This dresser would fit in perfectly with our house decor but it is going to the shop.  Hopefully someone else will love this as much as I do. :)

Thanks for stopping by. 
Consider following my blog or "liking" me on facebook. There will be an exciting announcement and give-away very soon. 

 


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