Introductions
This little gem today is a piece that I picked up from a local dealer...and let me tell you, it is one heavy hitter. I paid more for this piece than I normally would , and I typically do not buy pieces that have the yellow and gold finish on them {or any other finish} simply because I do not like previous colors showing through in the final finish. However, this piece was gorgeous, thick, and solid compared to most french provincial pieces and I decided to take her home with me.
It sat for a bit in the studio while I worked on others......to be honest, I have had it since January, but about a month ago I had a new client show up at the studio, fall in love with it, and commission me to paint it for her home. After planning together, and lots of sanding and painting.....I can finally say that I am super happy with this piece and think it is one of my new favorites. This piece presented a few problem solving challenges {one of which I'll be sharing a little tutorial on soon} so it felt really good to complete it, and complete it well... with a feeling of solid satisfaction.
One of the tricks that I will share with you is this.....I highly dislike primer, {I think you all knew that?} but because of all of the chipping paint that had to be sanded down until it was super smooth so as to not show up in the finish, and because I needed to cover up the yellow and gold finish that I did not want to show through....I found that chalk paint is the perfect paint to use as a "primer"! I know that this is unfair because it is a great paint by itself as well, but it is also a really great "primer" since it sticks to anything and tends to have a smoothing effect. It also has great colors for showing through in the distressing, and tends to give a really nice faded look when sanded together with the latex. {I would like to add, that in my experience so far....chalk paint is a good primer underneath latex paints, but not so great under itself....or painted on top of latex. Painted over itself is fine but tricky, and over latex it gets "glumpy". Chalk paint works best as a virgin finish first and foremost.} Just a tidbit, from me to you....
Anywhoo.....hope you enjoy miss Ju Ju. I am thrilled with her results and glad that she will be in her new home this week!
I will have a saweet new gray/green chest in the etsy shop by the end of the week so be looking for her ...... and p.s., I finally came up with a solution for my studio planter boxes.....just wait till you see!! Hopefully Friday I will have that little project completed to show you...
Have a great day!
xo.
Barb
Etcetera
To top off my trip to Lucketts I got to meet these three lovely ladies....who just make me smile from ear to ear! I love that all three paint furniture but yet each have their own unique style and personality....
It is so good for us creatives to meet.....embrace our differences and "alikes" {aka similarities}.....recharge our creative batteries...banter and carry on....yada, yada. I enjoyed every minute!
Please be sure to visit these lovely friends, check out their work, and say hello :
Vintage Before Beauty
Have a smashing weekend!
{I have some fun stuff coming up for next week!}
xo,
Barb
Found Goodness
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| Love this sign that I scored for 2.00. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to get a sharpie and instead of writing times....I wanted to write "all day, baby"....because we need to "enjoy it.....all day"! |
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| The front side of my fantastic sign....and it will be hanging in the studio from now on. |
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| Vintage Pyrex Beakers. I have been "eyeing" these for a while, and I probably paid too much....but I really loved the simple dot, and the graphics....it was worth the wait. |
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| These paintings caught my eye as soon as I saw them in the booth, and I loved them...but walked on by. In the end, they had me at hello...and my shelves at home are ever so glad to have some new artwork to add to the mix. |
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| ...here is a close up of the beautiful color, and if you would like to get some for yourself head on over to Bridgets Facebook page: Bridgetblocks |
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| I also found the prettiest stack of plates. Two blue, and two pink which I promptly made cake stands out of....and wouldn't you know I had customers stopping by the studio this week wanting cake plates! Perfect timing! |
I also found the perfect treat for the hubs...
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| ..a street sign bearing his name...I totally flipped over this one. |
Last....sadly, there was one.....that got away
I heart this "open" sign so much....but for 50 bucks..... I told myself it was too much..... only to frantically go back a bit later to purchase it! Unfortunately for me it had already been claimed. Boo Hoo!
All in all....Lucketts was a fantastic time....and even though I bought more for myself than for Knack ....it was fun to buy things for my own home.....for once!
xo,
Barb
Roomage
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| via decor8 |
Imagine waking up to this piece of divine every day? In my opinion, this little slice of roomage is "epic"...and a well played move....by some obviously very talented color geniuses!
Chromaticity
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| flickr |
I love this collection of painted rocks, and all of the soft and beautiful colors that were used....
...something like this would be perfect for adding some collected fun to your home....
...get those munchkins painting some bug rocks for you! :) ...
xo,
Barb
Introductions
First of all, I hope you all had a great weekend! I had a fantastic trip to Lucketts and also managed to squeeze in a midnight tour of the monuments in DC....it was fantastic!
I will be showing you my Lucketts finds on Thursday! It was so fun to meet some of my blog friends even though it was crazy busy for them at the sale.....I think they had little left to sell on Sunday! I have never seen such buying frenzy! Stuff that I planned to go back for was gone before I could get back! Oh, well...I managed to find some neat momentos.......And....
......today I would like to introduce you all to "Gertie". I bought this piece at a yard sale, and it turned out to be the perfect size and shape that I needed for my daughters room redo! I love this little piece, and it has the perfect amount of storage for all of B's little treasures!
I may still decide to add some sort of feet to this piece, but have not decided yet....so, until it hits me....this little Gertie is perfecto for now!
xo,
Barb
Etcetera
I have lots of little random tidbits for today's post, so hang on....I'll try to keep it interesting!
First, I have had a few emails about why there have not been any new Design Sponge posts, so I wanted to fill you all in. My contract with D*s was for one year, and that year was up May 1! I cannot believe a year went by that fast! It is so crazy how time flies! I enjoyed my year of writing , and it stretched me and grew me in ways I never even saw coming! Design Sponge is a fantastic platform, and I am so thankful for the experiences and opportunities that came my way. There are some really exciting things happening this summer including the first Design Sponge book, which will be launching soon {there is some Knack in it! woot!} and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I will be sure to let you all know the details as soon as I know them!
Second, I have an intern for the whole Summer! Double Woot! I was so excited when I got a phone call from one of the local colleges here in town asking about a possible internship with a creative business! I was like "shoot yeah" I would love to partake in that goodness! So, we went through the process of meeting, coming up with a plan, and I am happy to say that yesterday was miss Hattie's first day! What a day it was too...I broke her in really well! I got a phone call from a magazine {that I knew was courting a Knack story, and we had already done some initial work} in the morning, and they wanted to shoot the studio in the afternoon! How's that for a heads up?! The photographers are here for about four days, but due to my next tidbit to share, I had to be first on the docket...so, we became crazy girls getting the studio ready for the shoot! I have to say that Hattie is worth her weight in gold after just one day! Girlfriend came up with vignettes while I wasn't even looking....didn't have to ask...she just did....and she was spot on. That my friends is awesomeness! It all came together beautifully, and the mag peeps flipped out about the studio...so here's to hoping we make the issue. I'll be sure to let you know! My last statement to Hattie before we walked out the door at the end of the day was "welcome to Knack studio....where we really mean it when we say "creative business"! Especially the creative part... Fun times....
Thirdly, I am headed up the road today with my pal Lily! Road trip! We are headed to the Lucketts Spring Market to check out the goodness, and I am also looking forward to meeting some of my blog pals....Marian, and Cassie! I have been wanting to meet up with them for like ever....totally...so I am stoked!
They will both be selling at the market, and will be extremely busy, but we hope to get to hang out a bit and just enjoy finally meeting one another!
I am sooooo excited about road trippin' with my crazy girl and seeing what mischief we can get into! Fun times and crazy people just seem to gravitate to us when we are together, so it will be interesting to see what stories we will tell after this trip! We always say that one day we are going to write a book and fill it with all of our stories. Need to get to work on that.
I hope to have lots of photos to share next week, and I'll be posting photos to the Knack Facebook page along the way this weekend!
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
xo,
Barb
Found Goodness...
I have had my eye on one of these for a while.....and now my eye(s) will be on it every time I am in the studio....
I love, love, love my new wooden rolling shelves for lots of reasons, but the way they hold my fabric and plates makes me bananas!
xo,
Barb