SUMMER BLOGGING ~ I WILL BE BACK SOON

SUMMER BLOGGING ~ I WILL BE BACK SOON

 I really miss working on my blog and I will be back soon.
 It's been a very, very busy summer with my work and I've taken lots of pictures.

Almost three weeks ago a mommy raccoon and her three big babies kept hanging out in my yard.  Maybe the mom thought her babies would be safe here.  I  could tell they were playing in my yard at night.  Two nights in a row they knocked my birdbath off of the pedestal.  Knowing better, I lifted that heavy concrete birdbath and put it back on the pedestal.
 I pulled a muscle, twisted or did something to my back.
I've continued to work, but I'm uncomfortable sitting at my computer for very long.
Slowly, my back is feeling better.
I will be back soon and share lots of pictures with you.

BEAUTIFUL MANSION WHERE I'M WORKING ~ PAINTING CABINETS

BEAUTIFUL MANSION WHERE I'M WORKING ~ PAINTING CABINETS

This fabulous home is where I'm working right now. 

I know I promised more pictures of Patti's beautiful new home and I will do that soon.

I started this job several weeks ago.  I am painting LOTS of cabinets.  I was supposed to glaze all the cabinets in the house, but the owner decided she wanted them to be a creamy white.  I agree with her.  The decorators are painting walls and ceilings a beautiful taupe and woodwork and trim are a gray white.  My cabinet color is more a creamy white.  The decorators said they wanted the cabinets to be a little different color from all of the other trim.  

These very beautiful, elegant stair railings have been painted a medium brown.  

This crystal chandelier is right by the front door and lots of windows, high and low.

It sparkles all the time.

The floors in this grand entry are marble.  They're covered with heavy paper to protect them from paint overspray and equipment being brought in and out of the front door.

The marble is in the entry and all of the other floors in huge great room, dining room, living room, hallway, powder room and office will be a darkly stained wood, wide planks. 

 Those floors had a thick carpet before.

The kitchen has marble floors, too.

So, I'm telling you why I haven't been posting lately.  When I'm finished painting for the day, I'm tired and always have something on my list that needs to be done.  I don't work long days, but it's all very physical and I do get tired.  This job will take a few more weeks.  The owner said she doesn't mind me sharing pictures with you.  So, I will do that, but it might be a while.

Just wanted you to know I'm still around and will post when I can.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHER EARTH

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHER EARTH

"Happy Mother's Day. 

Let us not forget our " Mother Earth", who

 shows up everyday to greet us with open arms and a smile.

 Yes, sometimes, she can have a bitter temper, but mostly she is beautiful. 

"Thank you"!❤️
(MAGNOLIA PEARL)

ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN "SHOW THEM RESPECT" (THE JUNGLE BOOK VIDEO)

ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN "SHOW THEM RESPECT" (THE JUNGLE BOOK VIDEO)

BOW TO THE PACHYDERMS

"BOW YOUR HEAD. SHOW THEM RESPECT"
~

"Fiction, of course, but still beautiful and appropriate on 

THE DAY NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA, BRAVELY BURNED 

$172 MILLION WORTH OF ILLICIT ELEPHANT TUSKS & RHINO HORN.

~

I truly hope it makes a difference! :(

(For a larger view, click on Youtube in the lower right corner.)

WORKING IN PATTI'S FABULOUS NEW HOME~WHIMSICAL & WONDERFUL!!

WORKING IN PATTI'S FABULOUS NEW HOME~WHIMSICAL & WONDERFUL!!

Today I was working at Patti's new home again.

 I love, love, love working with her.  

And, I really LOVE the way she decorates. 

Isn't this warm and wonderful!

That moose head over her stove was a housewarming gift.

Sooo cute!!

When I walk into Patti's home it just makes me smile.  

Look at those metal climbing figures!! Aren't they the cutest thing!

Her fireplace is so tall and these figures are whimsical and just perfect to fill in an open space.

Patti said I can share more pictures with you.  As soon as I'm finished working on her furniture, I'll take a few more pictures.  She's got lots more decorating to do. 

 I can hardly wait to see what's next!!

TUTORIAL~HAND PAINTING MY DISHWASHER FRONT PANEL~CHICKEN NEST & EGGS ARTWORK

TUTORIAL ~ HAND PAINTING MY DISHWASHER FRONT PANEL ~ CHICKEN NEST & EGGS ARTWORK 

I have a big white ceramic chicken in my kitchen.
So, I thought it would be cute to draw a nest and eggs on the front of my dishwasher.

I thought it looked ok, but it took away my "white" kitchen.

I LOVE a white kitchen, so I PAINTED OVER IT.
MY DISHWASHER FRONT IS WHITE, AGAIN.

See, it looked ok.  Maybe too country for me.

Here's my big white chicken.
I had a chicken wire stencil and stenciled chicken wire and hand painted ivy on the side of my cabinet.  But, that bothered me, too.  I just wanted a "white" kitchen, again.
So, I painted over that.
(I have a newer tv, now :)

~

TUTORIAL

You can paint almost any surface if you use a "bonding" primer first.  I always use an oil based "bonding" primer.  I primed the front of my dishwasher and waited overnight for the primer to dry really well and "cure".  I painted several colors that might be colors of wood.  I used a rag and as I was painting I rubbed the paint vertically to simulate wood grain.  After I had all the wood colors the way I wanted them, I thinned down a dark brown (raw umber) color and drew the lines.  If you want knot holes, use a dark browny gray.  I swirled my brush to make different shapes.  If you look at your wood fence you'll see the different shapes of all the knot holes.  At the end, I sealed with a water based sealer that was a very low sheen. 

You don't have to paint a chicken nest.  You can paint any color you want.

Just use that "bonding" primer.

PAINTING KITCHEN CABINETS FOR NANCY & KEITH'S KITCHEN RENOVATION

PAINTING KITCHEN CABINETS FOR NANCY & KEITH'S KITCHEN RENOVATION

Nancy and Keith wanted to make changes to their kitchen.  It had yellow walls and cherry stained cabinets. They wanted new granite, backsplash and a new cabinet color. 

They wanted to make it young, again.  They called me for a bid on painting the cabinets.

This is the new finish I painted.

And, this is wonderful little Dolce'.  She was inspecting my work.

Look at the amber, brown and gray tones in the black granite.  So pretty!

The backsplash has stainless steel, amber, brown, glass, etc.

They wanted to change the yellow walls to a grayish off white color.  

Nancy felt that off white would go better with her new new color scheme.

 She and Keith painted the walls and wood trim.

That granite is so beautiful.  The backsplash goes perfectly with it and the new cabinet color.

Nancy did a great job choosing everything.  

She's a piano teacher and I told her she should be a decorator.

Beautiful Nancy and little Dolce'.

She suggested I sign my  work.  That was fun!

This is "BEFORE".

It was a nice kitchen, but now it's updated and really, really nice and modern.

(That's my mess you see on the island.)

Thank you Nancy and Keith!

Enjoyed working with you.