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. 

TUSCAN KITCHEN CABINETS HAND PAINTED SPECIAL FINISH

TUSCAN KITCHEN CABINETS 

HAND PAINTED SPECIAL FINISH

The two white distressed chandeliers in the post before this one are in this kitchen with the new off white colors that I will show you in the next post.
But, I wanted to show you the "before" pictures.
This is the tuscan special finish I painted for my client several years ago.
The cabinets were pickled/white washed oak.  She showed me the look she wanted, I made samples and she approved.
I loved the finish on these cabinets!

I used a gel stain and lightly distressed the finish.

My camera flash made them look kind of orangey.  In real life, they were a little more brown.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

THIS IS THE DAY AFTER I POSTED THIS KITCHEN.

I just found a picture that is closer to the actual color of the cabinets back then.  Not sure what happened with my camera, but this is better.  I do love the technique that I used, just not those orangey overexposed shots.

Also, I found this picture of her wine rack that I painted.  In her new kitchen, she had a cabinet door and drawer removed and had the carpenter build this custom sized wine rack. 

 I brought it home with me and painted it here.  Thank goodness, I was able to do that.  I've painted a lot of wine and plate racks and had to paint them in place and that is NOT easy!!

NOW, back to the original post:

This is such a beautiful, very large kitchen!  It wraps around in three sections.  I'm showing you the middle section.

I don't usually get to see and take pictures when everything is neat and back to normal.

Glad I got to take these pictures, though.

Because a few months ago, she called and said she was ready for a change.  She said she still loved this tuscan finish, but she was ready to have EVERYTHING painted in very light colors.

Before, she had me paint, texture and faux most of the walls in her new home in dark colors.  

Because of my schedule, I could only do the kitchen cabinets, this time.  She wanted the lighter colors and a little bit of distressing, again.  It took me about two weeks to do all of those layers.

Most of the finishes I paint take from 4 to 7 different layers.  That means I have to hand touch and paint every inch of those cabinets 4 to 7 times.  

It is a chore, but I do love what I do.

Especially when I'm finished and the client is happy.

IT'S ALMOST SEPTEMBER 11. ARE YOU PREPARED, JUST IN CASE?

Not to be paranoid, but I'm going to be prepared.

It's almost September 11, and I remember how scared and confused I was back then on 

September 11, 2001.

I eat mostly fresh and frozen vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc.  Rarely do I eat anything out of a can, except tuna.

But starting in 2001, I began storing a good supply of canned goods and non perishable food in the back of my pantry, just in case.

As I'm putting the cans in the pantry, I always use a marker to write the date on them.  After a few months, I give all the food to someone before the expiration dates and start buying and stocking my pantry, again.

Oh, and a good supply of water and bathroom tissue are very important items on that list of supplies. 

If something were to happen (ever) I think we would only be isolated for a very few days and I feel that I am prepared.

Are you?

Do you even think about it?