~ Hanging with Annie Sloan on my day off ~

Hello friends...welcome back!

Spring has sprung here in Virginia and all the flowering trees are showing off beautifully!

So what did I choose to do on my day off....

PAINT!!!

Before I get into those projects, I want to share a technique I learned from Annie Sloan's brand new and FABULOUS book.

Color Recipes for Painted Furniture.

If you have not purchased this  yet, I highly recommend it as it is chock full of creative and colorful information and techniques.

My good friend and one of my favorite customers, Traci, from 

Twig and Twine Nest 

called me and asked if I was going to have a class on any of Annie's new techniques.

I had just received my book shipment and thought this would be the perfect time to play.

I invited Traci to the shop to play with me....Yeah, I know my job is rough!

Color Recipes for Painted Furniture by Annie Sloan

We were going to try to duplicate Annie's wet wax distressed look pictured above.

I pulled out a large kitchen cabinet door from my local Habitat Restore and we got to work.

We followed Annie's instructions....French Linen Chalk Paint® base coat, then generous amount (not gloppy!)of Soft Clear Wax, while wax was still wet we applied a wash of Paris Grey and Old White.

We immediately started wiping back the wash and wet wax to reveal the French Linen below.

Our first try was not quite right and that was our fault. We did not make the wash wet enough and  it went on too thick.

Thank goodness you can paint over Annie's wax with her paint because we were able to just start over again with no problem!

The second time we made the Paris Grey /Old White wash much looser 

and the results were spot on!

We both loved the look and I think our sample board looks exactly like the wardrobe in Annie's book...it was really fun and easy.

I love the Swedish washed look we achieved.

Thanks Annie!

Every Thursday I invite customers into the studio to join me in a 

Bring Your Own Piece of Furniture Workshop.

Lately they have been turning out some very beautiful restyles.

I thought you might enjoy seeing a few..

Outside open porch rockers...remember, NO WAX outside!

I had this fun mother/daughter team burnish with a piece of brown paper bag instead of wax.

They created a nice sheen and smoothness without the wax.

LOVED that this lovely lady choose Olive and Graphite for her pie crust table.

 I showed how to lay the Graphite on in a way that it would take on the look of slate stone.

Really beautiful.

Dull brown side table is now striking with Coco/Duck Egg Blue wet distressed

This sweet lady already owns an antique vanity I had painted in

 Duck Egg Blue with Graphite top.

She found a lovely antique chair and painted it to match.

Notice the little touch of Imported French Gilding Wax on the legs...perfect!

I loved the custom mix of Hydrangea by Annie Sloan on this former

 Potterybarn looking white table.

I suggested she paint the inside of the drawer Versailles...she loved it.

Another custom mix of Arles and Cream Chalk Paint®

Want a soft buttery yellow...here she is!

The color mixes are infinite with Chalk Paint®, you just need to be adventurous.

Check out the all the great color mixing advice in the Color Recipes book

This beautiful cabinet was painted by a customer who had NEVER used Chalk Paint® before!!

It looks like an antique, right?

Nope....started out as a slick Ikea type finish with no character at all. All those great scrolls and turns were all invisible.

I believe she would fit right in at The Palace of Versailles with her gilding and expertly applied Soft Dark Wax...well done!

That's what has been happening at

The Empty Nest.

I'll leave you with one last photo..my family gifted me with a telescope last year.

This is a photo of my moon the other night as seen through the lens...

and this was with the regular lens, wait until I use the zoom!!!

You know I LOVE my Moon!

Until next time...be kind and stay creative!

The May Chalk Paint® Workshops are up and available for signup!

If you would like to join me for some fun in an Official Annie Sloan Workshop, 

Click on my WORKSHOP PAGE ABOVE or call me at the shop for details!

540-216-3044

For an Official Chalk Paint® Workshop near you, go to 

www.anniesloan.com

and remember...always look for the LOGO!