Franc's Morning Junk

Sometimes when I'm junkin', I feel like "Franc" from the The Father of the Bride. He walks up for the first time to that gorgeous two-story, white house and says, "Ohhh.....I love the house, love the shutters, love the yard .......we'll change it all."

This morning, I got up early to hit some yard sales. The yard sales were a bust, but there were a few sales going on at some flea markets. I scored this metal cabinet and of course, "I'll change it all". I scored a chair and a medicine cabinet and of course, "I'll change it all".
Just call me "Franc".

I won't change the color on this! Love, love....
Nor this....

But yes, this....

"Lucy....you got some paintin' to do!"

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Review

So Blogger's Back On! (finally).

I thought I'd take a minute to give a review of Annie Sloan's chalk paint. Really, I'm in the middle of two different projects right now, so I don't have any fun before & afters......but both projects involve this chalk paint that's so, so popular right now. If you are considering ordering some, you might read on.

First - Pros
1) EVERYTHING! There are so many pros to this paint that it's hard to start.....no priming, no sanding....just slather it on your project. It has a velvet-like finish. Dries fast...and you can easily tell when it's dry - I like that.
2) Distressing. Wow. It's beautiful. It rubs off evenly without peeling or pulling like paint sometimes does. I like to use a coarse sanding block and just rub in circles. The chalk paint tends to distress prettier than way....my opinion.
3) Layering. There are so many ways to work with the colors of this paint.....layering one under another......I need to take a workshop to show me the many different ways you can use with it.
4) Her wax. I've used only the Dark Wax....(I used regular Minwax finishing paste after painting) and it's soft, smooth and buttery. Easy to work with. I love the aged patina the Dark Wax gives...especially over those bright colors!
4) Time factor. Without having to prime or sand......this directly offsets Con #1.....

Okay now, Cons:
1) Price. It's steep. It only comes in quarts (another con) and with shipping and handling it comes to around $45 per quart. Lady Butterbug out of McKinney, Texas, is a great stockist to order from. Now, I can get about two large projects or 3 medium sized projects done with one quart, so a little goes a long way. But still....you gotta figure at least $15 of just paint material alone on each project (something to think about if you plan to sell).
2) Make sure to use a clear wax BEFORE distressing....otherwise you'll end up with powdery fine dust everywhere! Whew!
3) All the colors I've tried so far (Paris Grey, Louis Blue) cover wonderfully....but Old White, although gorgeous, takes two or more coats to cover. So plan on ordering another quart extra of Old White than normal.

I'm so ready to order Antibes Green and Aubusson Blue (who doesn't love those names?)....
oh....and I'm also ready to buy stock in this company. I have a feeling Lowe's, Home Depot....all of them are knockin' down her door right now. Do any stockbrockers read this blog??

Seven Years Old!!

My firstborn turned seven this past weekend. Seven. She'll be in 2nd grade next year, the oldest grade in primary. How did that happen so quick?

Cupcakes for her class

Swimming Party Birthday Cake

Too Cold to Swim at First....so Bubbles!
Hot Dogs & Friends

Sweet Girl....

Finally! It warmed up!

Sophie gettin' in on the action

Happy "Seven" to my Grace! We love you more than words can say....

you are the best, brightest, shining light!

My Meditation

I'm working on client pieces this week (I sound so professional saying that.....I should really be saying I'm doing projects for friends) and this one is just going to be a gem. A real gem.

And I realized tonight that when I'm painting, it's my own form of meditation. My mind is in a peaceful place...no matter how stressful the day was. I've got my favorite music on, usually Christian....Selah, Breakaway, Kari Jobe, Phil Wickham.... (but sometimes I'm rockin' to "Flo jams" Beyonce is thrown in there for sure!)

I'm thinking about God. The blessings He's given me. I pondering this new venture of mine.....dreaming big about it. Wondering why God didn't give me the talent to sing because I sing my heart out when I paint and it sounds baaadddd. I'm realizing that my hub's passion for running is his meditation and I should ease up on the nagging of it sometimes...... And my mind wanders from place to place with ease. Giving good thought to each subject .....

I enjoy each project I start. Even the beginning when I'm searching through my hub's tool box to find the flat head screwdriver to begin taking knobs off......and I look forward to my "meditation time". It's wayyy better than watching TV.

" Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord" Psalm 19:14

Re-Fluffed Booth

I have to double-post today just to show pics of my newly refluffed booth....I'm beginning to fill it up finally. What a difference two weeks make.....

I've found all these cute things...only to sell the cute things.

Maybe one day I can keep the cute things...

But alas...cute things are all for sale.

Cute, huh?

Workspace Agenda

So my sweet hubs decided to organize my...our....workspace the other night (at midnight). Clutter had taken over, and I just couldn't imagine tackling another project with me winding through a maze just to get the sandpaper. It looks tons better. Thank you, babe.

But I think he had another agenda. I'm pretty sure he's psyched about turning this vintage door into a farmhouse masterpiece......what'dya think? I'm right, right? He's not a bad carpenter....he's already made our kitchen countertops AND our dining room table. I'm glad I married him!

And I'm pretty sure my littlest loves the fact that daddy's workin' in the shop, so that she can do this......and get away with it. I'm right, right?

I'm right.

Up next? Now that my booth space at Winnie & Tulula's is "fluffed", I can focus on some client projects....a vanity for a teenage girl and a dresser set for a little tot. I'm excited to start both!

Mother's Day Thoughts....

I always have two thoughts on Mother's Day.
1) The enormous joy my own two daughters give me....and
2) The enormous memory of my own mother...

I was a brand new mother when my mom passed away. Grace was just a few months old at her funeral. I remember like it was yesterday. If I typed away only the wonderful memories of my mom, I would be telling half of the story. The story was not perfect....we weren't very close......the relationship complicated by my own selfishness, a sickness, and memories of lots of her time spent providing for us. But knowing what I know now....now that I'm a full-fledge mom of two and still only knowing part of motherhood (I haven't yet reached the teenage years), I realize that if given the chance, our relationship could have been so much more.

Regret. Sometimes acceptance of your own faults and mistakes is the hardest part of recovering from a death.

Knowing what I know now, I would have understood the time spent away. Doing what she thought was best. Knowing what I know now, I would have understood that Christ gives off the scent of what I was searching for in a relationship - and Christ alone. Knowing what I know now, I would have understood. Period.

My own daughters are constant reminders of my mother. My mom taught me alot. How to work hard. How to survive difficult situations. How to be strong. I hope to teach my own daughters all of that....and more.

Happy Mothers Day....to ALL the different mothers out there.

Love these two....