PEPPERMINT OIL KEEPING THE SQUIRRELS AWAY FROM MY BIRD FEEDERS??? MAYBE!!

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PAINTING & AGING WALL MEDALLIONS FOR DENA'S NEW HOME

        Dena found these medallions online.  They were a solid grayish color and she asked me to paint them these brown tones for the outside of her new home.

 I think she is going to put them on a wall of her covered patio.

They look really nice against the paint color of her home.

I painted them a base light brownish color and aged them with a very dark brown color.

I painted the dark brown on and wiped it off.  Can you see that I left them a little darker in the recessed areas?

Also, I painted them "antique copper" with gold.  After I painted the copper and gold, I used that same dark brown to age them.  

My flash is making them look sooo bright copper, but that's not how they looked in person.

They were very toned down with the aging glaze.

Dena said they looked really nice in her home.

RE-PAINTING CHRISTA'S VENT-A-HOOD FROM "ANTIQUE COPPER" TO MATCHING HER KITCHEN CABINET SPECIAL FINISH

RE-PAINTING CHRISTA'S VENT-A-HOOD FROM "ANTIQUE COPPER" TO MATCHING HER KITCHEN CABINET SPECIAL FINISH

A few months ago, I painted Christa's kitchen cabinets.  For her vent-a-hood, she wanted me to paint my "antique copper" special finish.  This is the link to Christa's kitchen with the "antique copper" finish.

She lived with the "antique copper" finish for a few days and called and told me she thought it was just too dark for the lighting in her kitchen.  We decided to paint it to match the kitchen cabinets.  Because of the texture on the vent-a-hood it is a little different, but looks very, very, very nice.

If she had decorated with copper pots and copper accessories, the "antique copper" would have looked great, but she just couldn't live with the darker color.  And, my client is the "boss".

Actually, I agree with her.  I like (LOVE) the lighter vent-a-hood.

This desk and cabinet are in the room next to the kitchen and

 she asked me to paint them to match the kitchen cabinets.

It didn't have doors so, she had two made before I started painting. 

The doors made a huge difference and she said they would hide her clutter.

This is a close-up of the special finish on the desk..  

The kitchen is a different technique, not crackled, but they're both the same color.

I only have a few more painting projects at Christa's house.  The different projects that I've done have made a dramatic difference to her already beautiful home.

I'll miss working with them and playing with little Cody.

MY BEAUTIFUL MARTHA GONZALES ANTIQUE ROSE IS BLOOMING IN WINTER

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SPECIAL TUSCAN FINISH I PAINTED ON JACKIE'S KITCHEN CABINETS-REVISITED

                      A couple of years ago, I painted a special finish on Jackie's kitchen cabinets.

Recently, she asked me to come back and do more painting for her.  She wanted me to paint her white mantel and do some work in one of the upstairs baths.

It made me feel proud to see her beautiful kitchen, again.

Originally, her cabinets were an orangey oak stained wood and that color just didn't go with her decor.  And, she just wanted to do something different, so this is the new special finish in her kitchen.

~

This is the link to the original post: 

 JACKIE'S NEW KITCHEN CABINETS

Her kitchen island was stained oak, too, and back then she wanted me to paint it a bluish color to match her draperies.  Now, it looks more like a piece of furniture than a kitchen cabinet.

~

This is the link to that original post:  

JACKIE'S NEW KITCHEN ISLAND

This is friendly Cabby.  She's all snuggled into that warm chair and looks so pretty with those fabric colors.  She's a little rescue cat.

Now, when I went back to work at Jackie's I noticed that WHITE door in the middle of her rich dark cabinets.  I'm not sure why I didn't paint it when I painted the cabinets.  Maybe she told me not to.  But, this time I asked if I could paint the door and she said "yes".

See the difference, now!!

This looks soooo much better.  The only reason I suggested painting that door is because it was a very distracting white in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by dark cabinets.

I also painted the door frame and the tiny bit of baseboard that connected the dark paint, so there would be no white in that area.

The kitchen is so much warmer, now and really, really looks nice.

I have a very thick notebook of finish formulas that I've painted through the years.  So glad I keep the formulas for projects such as this.  I'm thinking that book of formulas might be worth a lot some day, when I'm gone! :)

Close up of the special finish I painted on her cabinets.

Look at that hardware!  She searched and searched on the internet until she found exactly what she wanted on her new cabinets.

The next thing I'll be doing for Jackie is painting those kitchen chairs.  She found a copper table that she wants for her kitchen and I'll do some kind of finish on the chairs to match the table.

Was so nice working for you again, Jackie!!

BACK TO THIS GIANT TOAD FROG IN MY GARDEN

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MY EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO ME

Lookie at my early Christmas presents!  A cordless drill and a compressor and nail gun combo.  My other one is so old, it will be nice to have new tools.

The drill even came with a cute bag for storage.  I got it early because I was afraid Lowes would run out of them.  Gonna charge my drill tonight and can't wait to try to figure out how to use the nail gun.

I'm happy, happy, happy!!

PAINTING & STAINING A SPECIAL FINISH ON KATHY'S MASTER BATH CABINETS

Kathy did some major remodeling in her master bathroom and she asked me to paint a special finish on her cabinets.  They were white washed/pickled oak and she wanted them to have a darker wood look to them.

Kathy picked the special finish from one of my samples and then, picked the color from another of my samples.

I primed the white washed oak and then stained the cabinets.

Meet Kingston and Phantom.  Aren't they beautiful!!

Phantom is very old and all of the remodeling throughout the house was very hard on him.  So, Kathy made him a special place in her large bathroom and he was in there with me as I was working.  Such a sweet cat.  And, Kingston can do several very impressive tricks for his treats.

I always enjoy the pets as I'm working in a home.

This turned out sooo pretty with her new floor and granite.

Thank you Kathy!

PAINTING THE EDGES OF BATHROOM BORDER TILES FOR LORI

Lori is is remodeling two of her bathrooms.  She's getting new flooring, tile, granite, etc.  When all of the major work is completed, I'll get to do a special finish on the cabinets and I'll share pictures of those with you.

The first batch of border tiles came in ok.  But, when she placed a second order, thirty two of them came in with the edges unfinished.  So, she asked if I would paint the two outer edges to match the tiles.

I used a special primer, painted, then sealed with two coats of sealer. 

Lori was happy with the way they turned out.

After they're installed, I might have to touch up.  I'm hoping I sealed them well enough that they will hold up to the tile guy's work with the grout.  Even so, it was much easier to paint them before they were installed.

I'll let you know how they turned out.  

FLYING BIRDS ON MY WEBSITE & HUNGRY BIRDS & SQUIRRELS

     Well, I've been working every extra minute on my lyndabco.com website and finally!! finished.  I did all of the text and color changes, but my friend helped me with the new look.  For my navigation bar, she used my bird art and, as you're clicking on a link to view my work, it looks like the bird is flying.  I LOVE it!! 
     Birds, birds, birds, I love birds!  Well, maybe not doves and sparrows so much at my feeders.  Doves do such big poop and sparrows come in gangs, chase everybody off of the feeders, eat everything and move on to their next attack on feeders.  I know they're hungry, but they are aggressive and chase off the wonderful little chickadees, titmice, gold finches and other native birds.  I do feel guilty about my attitude, but that is how I feel.
     While I was on the computer, I had to keep getting up and chase squirrels off of the feeders.  Charlie will start barking so I'll come out.  This mama squirrel's earlier two juveniles are here and she's very pregnant again.  Doesn't she know there would be more food for her if she would just stop producing babies???  Squirrels are so pretty at this time of year and I love seeing them way out in my yard.  Their winter coats are very orangey and gray/brown. 
     I rarely see black squirrels and when I do, they're all in one location.  Not far from here, I was working in a home close to a woody area and there were lots of black squirrels.  That's so interesting!  Maybe the gray squirrels and the black squirrels are territorial and that's why I don't see them together.  A couple of months ago, I was driving down my street and saw a black something moving on the ground and I got closer and realized it was a black squirrel.  It carried it's tail low, not high like the gray squirrels.  It made me wonder if someone had it as a pet or the black squirrels are moving in.
     Thanksgiving was so nice and Christmas is almost here.  Soon, the holidays will be over with one more year behind us.  I hope you and I have a good new year and dare I hope for peace in the world!

PAINTING BLACK, STENCILING METALLIC GOLD & DISTRESSING A FANCY BOARD FOR CODY

Cute, wonderful Cody is Christa's little yorkie.  When there's a lot going on in the house and she needs to confine him, she has a board that she puts across a doorway. 

 Cody can still see out, but he can't get over it.  

It was just a plain board and she asked if I could paint something on it.

So, this is what I painted.  I painted and distressed it in black.  Then, I embossed the stencils and painted the stencils and Cody's name in metallic gold paint.  The board is 4'x12", but it was important to remember that the doorway opening was around 32 inches wide.  So, I needed to make sure the placement of the stencils was within that space.  This painted board might seem unnecessary and you wonder why even paint it.  Well, if you have an orange unfinished piece of wood in the middle of your beautifully furnished room, you understand.

And, embellish is what I do!!

On the other side of the board, I just painted it black, stenciled in metallic gold paint and added their initial.  Also, I rubbed the metallic gold paint around the outer edges.

Their home is so beautiful and I thought I would paint this board real fancy for them.

Christa told me they LOVED the board and thought it was "awesome"! 

That made me feel really good and so glad they were happy.

I was thinking that this board would make a really nice bench, too.  

Or, the back of a bench or even a headboard. 

 Now, I'm thinking of lots of uses for this board and it was really easy to do.

Also, she asked me to paint the picture frame in a distressed black.

(It's just above the board.)

STAINING & PAINTING BLUE FURNITURE FOR DIANA'S NEW HOME

Remember the New Orleans style house I posted a while back?  Well, Diana has finally moved in and is still getting settled.

She found this unfinished dining room table and asked if I could match her antique chairs.

That's always a challenge, but thank goodness I got very, very close to her chair stain color.

Diana LOVES the color blue and has touches of blue all around her home.

She asked me to paint and distress her table top in a blue color that she chose.

This table had a built in leaf that just folds into the table.  I think that is such a great idea! She'll never lose it and it won't take up room in a closet like mine does.  A neighbor told us that furniture used to be built that way/with a connected leaf.

I stenciled a little fleur de lis and scrollie on the leaf with metallic gold paint and rubbed the edges with the same paint.

It looks so pretty in her dining room under her gold crown chandelier.

This chest was an older brown stained piece of furniture and the nightstand was white.  Diana chose the blues and asked me to paint and lightly distress them to match for her guest bedroom.  (They are the same color!)

I've really loved working in this beautiful home and am very proud of the different projects she and the builder asked me to do.

Thank you Diana!!  I loved working with you!

CHARLIE & THE TOAD FROGS

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YOU CAN PAINT ARTWORK ON CANVAS FABRIC, TOO

This chair was white.  I painted and distressed it.  Got the canvas fabric from JoAnn's and painted the artwork on it with craft paints and used scotchguard to protect the fabric.  Then, I covered the seat of this chair.  You can do it, too.  You could paint stripes, a banana, a rainbow, handprints, etc.  It's fun!!

Also, I built (with help) and painted this table/desk a french grey/distressed.  It's for sale at The French Farmhouse.

PAINTING MY FRIEND'S SCULPTURE WITH BRONZE METALLIC PAINT

My friend has been studying sculpture and wanted to make a bust of his father as a gift to give to his mother.

This one is the first model and it was made out of plaster or some kind of sculpture material.

He had the final bust bronzed as his gift to his mother.  But, this one he asked me to paint with metallic bonze paint and paint a light patina on it.

If you have a small bust or something that you wish was bronze, just paint it with these metallic paints.  Any paint store will have them.

I think my friend did a great job on this bust and I bet his mother was very happy!!

TOGETHER FOREVER...PROTESTANT HUSBAND & CATHOLIC WIFE

The Graves of a Catholic woman and her Protestant husband, Holland, 1888

HAND PAINTED HARLEQUIN PATTERN ~ TREE & FLOWERS HAND PAINTED ARTWORK ON GARAGE WALL

HAND PAINTED HARLEQUIN PATTERN ~ TREE & FLOWERS HAND PAINTED ARTWORK ON GARAGE WALL 

This week my client asked me to come by and help her with colors for her patio/entertainment area.  I've worked for her for several years and was glad to see some of my work from the past.

I didn't paint this wonderful red chest, but I did paint the harlequin pattern on the wall behind it.  This is the dining room and I painted below the chair rail and faux painted above.  The faux painting had been painted over, but my client said she would always keep the harlequin because she loved it.  She loved country french, so I put a little red fleur de lis as an accent.  

Back then I painted the wall a base coat of off white, drew and painted the harlequin pattern, painted it and then aged it with a light antiquing glaze.  

~

LINK TO MY TUTORIAL:

TUTORIAL: DRAWING & PAINTING HARLEQUIN PATTERN

~

Near her patio the door going into the garage was already red.  I rubbed the green on it and painted ivy at the top.  I had painted an atrium door and red wood trim around her windows the same way, but they have been painted over.  This will be painted over some day, too.  

So glad I got to see it again.

I painted this crepe myrtle tree and pots of flowers next to the door.  From the pool and patio area it still looks nice, but a little bit faded.  This artwork has been there for several years and I think it's held up very well.  It wouldn't take too long to freshen and touch up the colors.  Maybe I'll get to do that one of these days.  Or, maybe it will be painted over.

Glad I have lots of pictures.

REVISITING & REPAIRING METALLIC "ANTIQUE COPPER" SPECIAL PAINT FINISH

A few months ago, I textured and painted my metallic "antique copper" special finish on the walls of a very large/tall powder room.  In south Texas, lots of my clients like the darker colors and finishes.  This house was kind of an elegant Mexican style.  Very, very beautiful.

That little window looks out on a huge courtyard.

The wrought iron chandelier is so large and heavy that I really had to struggle with it as I was texturing and painting the metallic "antique copper" several layers on the walls and ceiling.

In the corners and here and there around the top of the walls, I painted a blue grayish patina.  I wanted it to look like the copper was tarnishing.  And in person, it really does.  My flash is making this room look very bright, but it's not, at all.  This powder room is dark and shadowy and you really can't see the metallic copper reflection unless the light is on or light coming from the window or door.  Because of the antiquing glaze, you can only see the metallic paint reflection here and there and it's a really cool look.

So, today I had to go back for some repairs on the mirror wall over the sink.  The decorator decided to change out the light fixtures/sconces so, I had to repaint that part of the wall.  I did a pretty good job, and because the room is dark and shadowy, I don't think any guest would ever notice the repairs. and touch ups.

This is her kitchen and (months ago) the decorator had me paint those very high ceiling beams in the metallic "antique copper", too.  I had to stand on that huge ladder on scaffolding to paint them.  (That could take your breath away !)

Here is the link to that post.

Painting Metallic "Antique Copper" Kitchen Beams

Today, it was fun going back and seeing the house furnished and decorated around my work.

Actually, it was amazing!

I do love my job!!

SELFIE OF SELF

One of the bloggers is asking for selfies and this is the best I could do, this time.  The last time I tried, I got mostly nostrils.  I know!  I know!  I'm not good at this!!

Have you tried to do a selfie??

There's a special talent to getting it right.  And, you have to kind of be a contortionist!

HAND PAINTED BIRD & NEST ARTWORK ON STOOLS FOR CHRISTA'S BEAUTIFUL NEW BLACK DISTRESSED KITCHEN ISLAND

Christa finally got her new granite for the kitchen island that I painted for her.  It's really beautiful with the rest of her newly painted kitchen cabinets that I painted, earlier.

And, we decided that the metallic gold highlights should be a little brighter color, so I touched up all of the gold and it really stands out, now.

Christa had two stools that they used at the island and asked me to paint them to match the island.  And, she asked me to paint some artwork on them.  Wrens are kind of special to her, so I painted a wren and a nest.

This morning, I delivered the stools to her and she just loved the new look.  That always makes me feel good.  It's always a bit stressful until I know I've done what a client will be happy with.

The stools were a brown stained wood before I painted them.

And, her switch plates around the kitchen were WHITE.  I told her I could paint those so they would almost disappear.  I usually paint the plate only, but she wanted the center painted, too.  I sealed it really well with three coats of sealer, so I'm hoping it doesn't chip.  The plates always hold up very well, but where you plug things in and out, sometimes the paint wears off.  I bet it will hold up!

(Island & Stool BEFORE)

(LINK to Christa's KITCHEN Before & After I painted it.)

MOLLIE THE TORTIE CALICO CAT

MOLLIE THE TORTIE CALICO CAT

This is little Mollie.  
Her mommy left her under my bedroom window when she was a tiny kitten.  
                                                                    

 One night, I kept hearing a tiny "meow".  I took a flashlight out and looked in the cast iron leaves under my bedroom window and couldn't see anything.  Then, the next morning I saw Charlie staring at something in the bushes in the backyard. 

 Mollie had squeezed under the back gate.  

The love began!

She and Charlie became best friends and it was so much fun to watch them play.  Kittens are just so, so cute anyway, playing and stalking everything.  I tried to get her to live in the garden shed, but she loved Charlie and insisted on following him in the doggie door.  

I could not keep her out of the house.

I'm a painter and my studio is big and open.  She would climb on my shelves and knock paint off.  Twice when I was painting a bench and a table, she jumped up on the wet paint.  I know she was just trying to be with me, but it JUST COULD NOT WORK!! 

 Too frustrating for me.

When she was smaller, she would sleep in this bowl.  So cute!  

She was a sweet, beautiful tortie calico, but I had to find her a new home.

For a whole year, I searched and looked for the perfect home.  

I felt sooooo guilty, but just could not have her inside my house.

Finally, my friend Monica found her a WONDERFUL home.  They had three other cats and just loved Mollie.  Their cats were "inside" only, so that was perfect for her.

That was three years ago, but I still remember her and every once in a while, I have a little guilt feeling, but she's wonderfully happy, now.  Marty is the new mom and she has shared photos and let me know how happy Mollie is and how happy they are to have her.

Slowly, I'm getting over it.

PULL OUT DRAWERS ON SLIDES FOR MY KITCHEN

For a long time, I've been wanting to add these pull out drawers on slides.  Last week, a carpenter friend came by and measured my cabinet, so he could build the drawers in his shop.  I had recommended him to one of my clients and when I saw her's, I knew it was time for mine!!

Yesterday, he came by and installed them.

I am so, so happy with these drawers.  One of these days, I will get around to painting them.  But for now,  I cleaned them really well and put in shelf paper.

I just couldn't wait to put my pots and pans in their new special places.  

Why did I wait so long??

I LOVE these pull out drawers that slide!!

PAINTING, PAINTING A STRIPE & DISTRESSING FURNITURE FOR PATTI'S BEACH HOUSE

Patti has brought several pieces of furniture for me to paint for her new beach house.  She just has the neatest taste and it's always interesting to see what's next!  And, her ideas are usually a bit challenging, but always turn out beautifully.  Such a cute idea this was!!

This chest was brown and she wanted me to paint it to match one of her new bedrooms.  A stripe!!!  Oh no, that's never easy.  Anyway, I did it!

The chest started out like this.  And, it's the HEAVIEST wood I've ever worked with.  She and I brought it into my house and, even with the drawers out it was unbelievably heavy.  Like it was made out of concrete!!

Anyway, she was real happy when she saw the way I painted it.  I kept telling her I might have distressed it too much and as she was coming into my house, she kept turning her head away so she wouldn't see it.  Like "oh no, I don't want to look!".  It was funny!  Then, when she saw it she LOVED it and said it was exactly what she was envisioning.  Whew, that was a relief because I really did think I might have done too much distressing.  But if I had, all I had to do was touch up the places she wanted covered.  

It's only paint!!

MY FANCY, BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC GUTTER DRAINS

A few months ago, I decided I needed gutters on one part of my house.  There was just too much water coming down in that one area.  Gus is the guy who helps me a lot and I asked him to install the gutters.  I went to the hardware store and got some of those roll out bright green water diverters to attach to the bottom of the downspout.  I kept looking at those and knew I just could not live with such a plain, common downspout.  I knew this was an opportunity to create!!

Gus and I designed these and I just LOVE the way they look.  I already had the rocks and the decorative tiles.  As he was building the drains with concrete, I placed the tiles and rocks.

And, I had several metal birds and thought they would look so beautiful on my downspout that looks like a river or waterfall.  They are bright metallic gold and I smeared concrete on them to make them look messy and old.  (Old is what I do in my work and love things to look old.)

This is the other one.  Over time, it will get more and more stained and I'll love that.  I might even paint some stain on the areas that are not getting naturally stained by the water off of my roof.

Gus dug and put a pvc pipe under my rock walk to divert the water.  Look who now calls it his/her home.  That big ole toad frog is always in there during the day and comes out at night

While the concrete was still wet, I asked Gus to put a few of these tiles along my rock walk and I added this little cement dove.  He was wiping and cleaning the concrete from the tiles and I asked him to smear and smudge the concrete ON them.  I think that looks old and when they finally get stained from weather, they'll look really nice, (to me).

Excuse me!! I'm trying to take a photo, here!!!

Charlie and Punkin started playing in my way.

I live on a hill and am always working to divert water from going under my house. So, I asked Gus to build this rock border to keep excessive rain water from flowing under the studio part of my home.

I just took this photo and am very proud and happy to say it rained last night and this morning as a cold front was coming through.  We have been in a horrible drout and really appreciate any rain that comes our way.