SOPHIA BAKING COOKIES FOR SANTA & FRIENDS

SOPHIA BAKING COOKIES FOR SANTA & FRIENDS

My beautiful little friend Sophia was baking cookies for Santa and baked extra for her friends.  I was on that list!  She has flour on her nose.

Isn't she adorable!!

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

Your trees are begging you not to throw their leaves away.

Their roots are deep and bring up the minerals and good things in the earth for nourishment.

FOR MORE ABOUT THE VALUE OF FALLEN LEAVES,

VISIT MY NATURE BLOG:

BIRDS & DAFFODILS

PAINTING METALLIC GOLD ON 27 PICTURE FRAMES & PAINTING ANOTHER PIECE OF FURNITURE TO A BLACK DISTRESSED FINISH

PAINTING METALLIC GOLD ON 27 PICTURE FRAMES & PAINTING ANOTHER PIECE OF FURNITURE A BLACK DISTRESSED FINISH 

Look at allll of these picture frames!

My client is going to put family pictures in them and I think she is going to hang them on one wall in the bedroom with the CHOCOLATE BROWN CHEST OF DRAWERS that I painted.  Or, maybe in the hallway, I forgot what she told me.

We were meeting for another project and she asked if I could paint these for her, too.

  She and her decorator wanted me to dress them up a bit with metallic paint.

All 27 of them!

Thank goodness I already had some metallic paint with me! 

 I didn't want to work on her white/off white carpeting, so I piled them on the bathroom floor and just sat there on her floor and painted them.

All I did was swipe the edges with a brush, a rag and metallic gold paint.

It really dressed up those frames. 

As you can see, this is an old frame and I think she's going to put baby pictures in it.

She and the decorator chose this turquoise color.  I did bring this one home to paint.  I just sanded those edges lightly and then painted the turquoise on the edges and wiped with a rag to distress them a little bit.  Then, I put some sealer on the turquoise edges only.

Another black piece of furniture!

My client wanted me to paint this old dresser, too.  I think it had been her mother's dresser.  They wanted it to be mostly black, so I rubbed/distressed around the top edge, the leg posts and the feet.  It was mostly black.  She wanted to keep the original handles and they looked so good.

When this dresser was delivered, my client just loved the new look.  She especially like the distressing, so asked me to distress the edges of the top three drawers and I had to bring them back home for that.  They were picked up, so I have not gotten to see how the dresser looks, now.

But, I know it looks so nice and it was a good idea to do more distressing.

This is the old finish of the dresser.  There was a chip and a deep scratch, so I filled them in with this Elmer's Wood Filler.  I love this stuff.  It dries quickly and it's soft when it dries, so it's easy to sand.

See that wide edge around that top drawer?  All three top drawers had that edge and that's what I re-painted.  I couldn't just sand those edges, I had to start over with the paint layering process.  That's why I brought them home.

When I was there painting the frames, I got to see it (before I repainted the drawers)

and it looked really beautiful and smart in her room.  Her decor was mostly beiges, off white and brown.

PAINTING AN OLD MAHOGANY CHEST OF DRAWERS MAKING IT NEW AGAIN

PAINTING AN OLD MAHOGANY CHEST OF DRAWERS MAKING IT NEW AGAIN

My client had this beautifully shaped old chest of drawers. 

 It had a reddish mahogany finish on it and a few scratches and chips.  She wanted me to paint it to match a really neat iron bed in her bedroom.
Her decorator chose the colors.

I primed and then painted a tan tone undercoat.  

After that coat of paint cured, I painted this dark brown over the tan base coat.  I used sandpaper and a rag to wipe off the brown and expose the tan undercoat on the edges.

(I have a mirror in this room.  That long stripe is a reflection of the mirror from the camera flash.)

They wanted just a little bit of distressing, so I sanded and rubbed a few areas.

They are going to use the old brass handles.  The brass will look so good with the new brown and tan paint colors.

I really love the shape of this old chest of drawers.  And, look at the shape of those feet!

  Now, it's new again!

PAINTING WHITE & DISTRESSING ASHLEY'S BEDROOM DRESSER

PAINTING WHITE & DISTRESSING ASHLEY'S BEDROOM DRESSER

Ashley and Austin are redecorating their master bedroom and asked me to paint and distress this chest for them. 

 It was brown and gold, before.

After I painted the white, I rubbed and distressed the edges.

They're adding beiges, white and silver to their new decor. 

I love that color combination.  It's soft and soothing.

They wanted some metallic silver on the top edge of the dresser.  So, I swiped it on with my finger and a rag to make it look a bit distressed and uneven.

These silver knobs were on their chest before it was painted white and Austin was testing to see how they would look.  Those knobs looked so good on the brown and gold furniture.

But, Patti is helping them with the decorating and I think she is going to add some glass or crystal knobs.

Ashley said she would send a picture and I'll share it with you.

Patti is such a good decorator that I know she'll make it funky and wonderful!

Here's that sweet family!

As I was leaving, they were telling me bye.

You can't tell in this picture, but beautiful little Caroline has very red hair and a beautiful complexion to go with it.  She favors her grandmother.

And, wonderful little Baylor.  He has such a cute feisty personality.

They named him that because Ashley and Austin went to Baylor.

This is how the chest looked "before".

Patti painted this a long time ago and it was really cool looking.

But, time for a change.

If you're tired of your old furniture, don't throw it away.  

Paint it, change the knobs and handles and it will be wonderful again!

ROBIN'S OLD & DISTRESSED KITCHEN CABINETS & BLACK KITCHEN ISLAND THAT I PAINTED

ROBIN'S OLD & DISTRESSED KITCHEN CABINETS & BLACK KITCHEN ISLAND THAT I PAINTED

And, when I was finishing the dining room painting, Robin said
"oh, I forgot!  I got a new microwave and I need you to touch up the cabinets".
That's three in one month's time!
 I guess they were all getting their kitchens ready for heavy Thanksgiving and holiday cooking.

This is a picture of "after" I touched up around the edges.  

Several years ago, Robin asked me to paint her kitchen cabinets a special distressed old finish.

Of course, that's my favorite thing to do.

Here is the finish I painted on her cabinets.  

She chose all of her tile and granite and it looks just wonderful with the cabinets.

She asked me to paint her island black and it looks sooo good in the middle of her lighter cabinets and granite.  The black island and black backsplash tiles are wonderful!!

The pictures I took of the whole kitchen turned out really yellowy.  I guess I needed new batteries in my camera.  Robin just had the whole downstairs repainted and wants me to come back to see her new colors.  I'll try to take better pictures of her kitchen.

MY CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE

MY CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE

1/4 cup red wine

1/4 cup orange juice

one lb. fresh cranberries

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

one apple, finely chopped

Cook til the cranberries stop popping

It's so delicious! 

My friend Ruth gave it to me years ago.

REPAINTING ROBIN'S DINING ROOM WALLS AN ELEGANT CHARTREUSE GREEN

REPAINTING ROBIN'S DINING ROOM WALLS AN ELEGANT CHARTREUSE GREEN

A few months ago, Robin asked me to paint her dining room an off white and brown.
I painted over a beautiful deep burgundy that I painted when she first bought her home.
The new off white walls with brown ceiling and brown below the chair rail looked so elegant and nice.  But,

the off white was just too boring for her taste.  She found some new fabric to recover her chairs and asked me to paint her walls this LOVELY chartreuse green.  It looks sooo good with the brown and  the metallic gold trim.  Years ago when I painted the burgundy, I painted the crown molding and baseboards a crackled metallic gold.  It looked really fancy and fine in her beautiful dining room.  Now, it still looks really good with her new chartreuse and brown.

  It's wonderful and happens to be in the tones of my very favorite colors.  

I love  chartreuse and yellow greens.

This is the elegant off white and there's Robin holding her little cat Mitzi.  Mitzi loves her mommy and one of her big sisters, but NOBODY else!!  

Earlier, I had embossed and painted some scrollies around the room.  To save time, Robin said she would paint around all the scrollies for me.  I gave her a tiny brush and she went to work.  She did a really good job, too!

This is her living room.  I textured and faux painted those walls.

Those walls are really high!

Isn't it beautiful!

I've worked for Robin for many years and love working with her.  She loves her home and is always finding ways for me to spruce it up for her.

Robin,

Thank you for letting me be a small part of your beautiful home.

LOOK AT MY SMALL FOLDING LIGHTWEIGHT DOLLY

LOOK AT  MY SMALL FOLDING LIGHTWEIGHT DOLLY

Found it at Lowes's.

It was 25.99.  and holds 150 lbs.

When it's folded, I can store it almost anywhere, even carry it in my car.

It will certainly come in handy in my work.

See how it folds?

I have two other dollies, but they don't fold  like this one.

Great find for me!

ANOTHER PAINT TOUCH UP FOR TUSCAN/OLD WORLD KITCHEN CABINET SPECIAL FINISH

ANOTHER PAINT TOUCH UP FOR TUSCAN/OLD WORLD KITCHEN CABINET SPECIAL FINISH

Then, another client called and told me she had just replaced her microwave oven and needed me to come by and touch up around the edges.  

That's two in a month!

I'm thinking everybody is getting ready to do some heavy holiday cooking.

This picture is "after" I touched up around the microwave oven.

This is a kitchen/cabinet finish that I painted last year.

I try to always keep the formulas for the finishes, so I'll know the  tones for touch ups.  But, when I have to touch up these finishes that I paint, I don't start from the beginning.  I use craft and other paints, mix them to the exact color the cabinets are now.  And, then I use the same clear coat sealer and seal them really well. 

This is a close up of the tiny bit of the original dark cabinet finish showing around the edges.  When they are so small and close to the appliance, it's easy to hide the new paint.  Touching up a scratch in the very middle would be a lot harder to hide.

I love this kithcen!

TOUCHING UP PAINT IN JACKIE'S TUSCAN KITCHEN

TOUCHING UP PAINT IN JACKIE'S TUSCAN KITCHEN

The post on me painting a tuscan finish on Jackie's kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular posts  and most viewed on my blog.  Recently, she replaced her oven and microwave oven and needed me to touch up the paint around the edges.

As I was leaving and talking to her, I said you look so pretty standing there, may I please take a picture of you and put it on my blog??  She said "ohhh, ok". 

Doesn't she look so pretty standing there!  She's in the medical field and very, very bright.

A tiny bit of the old cabinet color was exposed when they replaced the ovens.  All I had to do was darken and rough up about 1/2" around the area.  It matched the other distressed and aged finish and you really couldn't tell it was new paint.  

When I have to touch up any of the cabinets that I've painted, I don't go through the several layer paint process that I did in the very beginning.  That would never work and would look very different.  I use craft and other paint and mix until I get the exact color and touch up with that.  Then, I seal it really well, again.

Isn't her kitchen beautiful!  It's so warm and cozy.  

It looks like it's ready for Thanksgiving and the holidays.  I can just smell the cornbread dressing...oh wait, that's what I do.  I 'm hungry for it right now!!

Link To Original Post

JACKIE'S TUSCAN KITCHEN

PAINTING GRAY & WHITE FURNITURE FOR KATIE'S NEW HOME

PAINTING GRAY & WHITE FURNITURE FOR KATIE'S NEW HOME

Patti has funky wonderful taste and is helping a young school teacher decorate her new home.

She went shopping at Goodwill, thrift shops and probably estate sales, looking for furniture for Katie.

Then, she brought these pieces to me and asked me to paint them.

The dresser is (I think) Henredon and a very nice piece of furniture.

The armoire was pine.  Patti is going to cover the back of the armoire with fabric and it will be a tv cabinet.  You'll see the fabric back when it's open.

These are the handles that she chose to go on the gray and white pieces and I'm sure there are fabrics and accessories in the room in these colors, too.

Almost any paint finish I do takes several layers.  So, while I was painting the dresser drawers, I had to keep taking them in and out to paint the dresser frame.  I would stack them in this chair and they were a bit wobbly on that cushion.  

I kept hoping that guardian angel would watch over them and she did.

They did not fall!

This was a queen size pine bed and Patti wanted it painted white.  I'm sure she found something really neat to use as finials on top of all four posts.

These two pieces, I think she told me she found them at Goodwill.

You should see them painted white.  They were both just as cute and special as could be.

Remember, I showed you some things I painted for Patti's beach house?  

She brought this carved surfboard and it was painted blue where the gray is now.  I painted the gray, left the little orange stripe and the middle is the original color.

Can't you just see this hanging on the wall of her beach house!!

This is a close up of the paint finish.  I didn't distress the white, only the edges of the gray.

Patti and I moved all of the furniture in and out.  She's very strong, but it's always a bit of a struggle for me.  Somehow I always end up going backwards.  Not sure how that happens!

Bye, bye furniture!!

MY FIRST DIY eBOOK PAINTING WITH A GEL STAIN

MY FIRST DIY eBOOK PAINTING WITH A GEL STAIN

Recently, I completed my first instructional eBook.  
It's about painting a door, but you could use the same information for painting woodwork trim in your home, a piece of furniture, kitchen cabinets or anything that might be painted with paint and you want it to look like a stained wood.
 ~

A client got a new front door and it had a white primer on it.  She wanted a dark stained wooden front door but the one she wanted was really expensive.  A friend told her that it was easy to stain the white one with a gel stain and make it look similar to the one she liked.  Since she's not really a painter, it was a challenge for her and didn't turn out the way she thought it would and gave up!

So, she brought it to me.

I work with gel stains a lot and decided to compose an eBook to show how I work with gel stains because they're a little tricky to work with.  This 13 page eBook shows you step by step how I use my brush strokes to simulate wood grain.

If you are wanting to change any door, cabinet or piece of furniture and would like to see my technique, here is a link to purchase my very first eBook in PDF form.

PAINT A WHITE DOOR TO LOOK LIKE A STAINED WOOD DOOR USING GEL STAIN

If you're interested in my eBook, but would rather have a 

"PRINT COPY"

that is available for purchase, also.
Thank you for your interest!

INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

There are lots of monarch butterflies visiting my garden right now.  I grow butterfly weed and eupatorium just for this time of year, when they will be passing through on their journey to Mexico.  Most butterflies live a couple of weeks or a couple of months, but the fourth generation of the spring/summer season monarch butterflies live 9 months and their story is incredible!  The monarchs are everywhere in town right now.  I'm hoping that no one will delay their journey by putting them in a jar or in a cage.  They are on a mission of survival.  Most of them will be moving on south with the winds of the next cold front.

ENJOY THEIR BEAUTY!!

INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

(youtube.com)

A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS FOR YOU

A BOUQUET OF FRESH FLOWERS FOR MY FRIENDS

The flowers in my garden are perking up and loving the cooler weather.  

Soon, they will be dropping seeds to ensure that life will go on.

This is a beautiful time of year.

THE GARDEN SHED FLOOR & PREPPING FOR WINTER

THE GARDEN SHED FLOOR & PREPPING FOR WINTER

Yesterday was "pet prep for winter" day.

I washed all of the bedding and cleaned out the garden shed.

For more pictures, visit my nature blog:

BIRDS & DAFFODILS

PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

The holidays are right around the corner and I bet you're planning your decorations.

A very inexpensive and fun way to decorate is with canvas drop cloths.

These are the halloween drop cloths that I painted for a client.

You can paint these, too.

They were fun to paint!

I used craft paints.

  For all of the large metallic swipes that you see, I used a very wide brush.

Your kids would have so much fun painting these.

Just spread them out on your driveway and let'em go at it!!

Have fun!

A CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE ABOUT PAINTING FURNITURE

A CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE ABOUT PAINTING FURNITURE

On my blog, I have a tab labeled "Ask Me".  A few friends have asked questions there, but
I get lots of paint and painting questions through my email address.  I will always give you the best answer I can for your project.  There are a few special techniques that I'm still using in my business and would rather not give out that information, just yet.  For most questions though, please feel free to "Ask Me" or email me.
You'll find my email address on the "Ask Me" tab.
I would love to help you with your projects!
Below, is a conversation that I had with Donnie last week and thought you might find it helpful, too.

"Hey Lynda. I have a dresser and nite stand with bed . Head board and foot board. Frame and siderails. I also have the mirror that matches the dresser it does not mount to the dresser but hangs on the wall behind it. It is almost Identical. drawers and all to the one you did. How should I Finish these. Please reply back. I am trying to start a small business to help in my retirement. Thank you. Donnie in Ga."

"Hi Donnie,

     When I paint furniture, it's usually for a client and they're using it in their home and want the colors to go with that room's decor.  I have found that "decor" colors are "regional".  I'm not sure what your clientele will be, but you will need to paint what you think your client will want.  Your furniture is probably off white french provincial.  You could paint it white and distress it.  You could use a gel stain and make it look like stained wood.  Just read the instructions to do that or ask your paint store.  You can get tons of finishes and ideas from Google.  To get ideas of what your clientele might be, go to the flea markets and craft stores that sell furniture in your area.

     I do love painting furniture and hope you do very, very well in your business!

     Hope this was helpful.

Lynda"

"I just was thanking you for the tips. And I will let you know how things go. Im new at this but love doing it. Thanks"

DO YOU LIKE BRUSSEL SPROUTS, TOO?

I LOVE BRUSSEL SPROUTS!

Do you like brussel sprouts, too?

I love brussel sprouts!!

The first thing I do is soak them in water and pull off the loose leaves.  I save the clean leaves that I pull off and will cook them later.  The reason I pull off the loose leaves is to make sure there's no dirt on them.  Another reason is, once at a cafeteria I was eating broccoli and there was a very large bug in it.  Then, one time I was cleaning broccoli to cook and found a very large bug and it was still alive. 

I figured they came in from the farm. 

Soooo, any leaves that are loose or any other hiding places, I wash and check very carefully

To cook the brussel sprouts, I cut the ends off and cut each one in half.  I add chopped onions and grated carrots and my favorite spice.  Then, I pour olive oil all over everything and mix it up really well, making sure everything is covered with the olive oil.  I lay the brussel sprouts cut side down.

Last, I grate a little bit of cheese over all.

I cook at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour, til they're soft.  

I eat a lot while it's still hot.  Then, after it's cool, I put it all in little freezer bags and into the freezer it goes.  Cooking the brussel sprouts this way, it's still really good after it's been frozen.  I can have brussel sprouts often and my very favorite thing is to eat this with my breakfast.

You could add other vegetables, if you want, but this is my favorite way to cook brussel sprouts. And, I think it's a very nutritious way to cook them, too.

I guess you can tell that I really, really love brussel sprouts!!

Oh, and my little Charlie loves them, too.

FROM TUSCANY KITCHEN TO OFF WHITE GLAZED & DISTRESSED KITCHEN CABINETS

FROM TUSCANY KITCHEN TO OFF WHITE GLAZED & DISTRESSED KITCHEN CABINETS

Several years ago my client asked me to paint this tuscany finish on her kitchen cabinets in her new home.  The cabinets had a pickled/white washed finish on them and that just didn't work with her furniture and kitchen decor.

Now, it is a beautiful cozy kitchen with the new warmer cabinet color.

Recently, after about ten years, she called and said she was ready for a change.  She wanted me to paint her cabinets again and this time she wanted them to be very, very light.

Such a contrast!

This is her new chandelier that I shared with you in the two posts before this one.

And, this is the smaller chandelier that I shared with you in the earlier post.

She had painted this one a dark green to go with her tuscany kitchen.  This time she asked me to repaint it in similar colors and finish to match her beautiful new chandelier.

This is her kitchen after I finished painting the lighter colors.  

Finally, she can start redecorating her new kitchen.

I know it will be beautiful!

Look at this bowl.  Isn't it fabulous!!!

My client told me the artist is in her 90's.  I don't remember her name.  Can you imagine the time that went into this delicate work! 

 Those are the colors that I LOVE.

This is a close-up of the new finish on her cabinets that wrap around the large room.

I painted a lighter off white and then glazed with a little bit darker off white and wiped off with a rag.

As I usually do, I made several samples before I started the work and this is the one that she approved.  I had to make sure the colors I chose would go and blend well with her new backsplash and her new granite.  Choosing the right shades of color is really important for the best look in a room.

This is a picture of the finish that I painted on the kitchen island.  I painted the same technique that I painted on the other cabinets.  But, I used a darker off white as the base coat and distressed the finish So, when I distressed and opened the top coat the darker off white base coat showed through. 

Not sure if you can see that I painted the inside of the open shelves of the upper cabinets that same darker off white.  The darker off white is the color I used for the undercoat of the distressing on the island.

Years ago, when I painted the tuscany finish on the cabinets, I also textured the walls in several of her rooms.  I used sheetrock mud and a 5" or 6" broad knife.  I love the textured look and I love doing it, too.  It's a lot of work and the mud is heavy.  It really changes the look of a room.

I loved working in this beautiful home, again.