Workshop Number One!

Today was the first Annie Sloan paint workshop.  I probably could have sold the six places at least 3 times over!  I was delighted with the response and even more pleased when I saw what the fabulous tutor, Cait from Carte Blanche, got the workshop girls to produce.

Cait Whitson from Carte Blanche

They techniques being taught were a 2 colour distressed finished, a textured aged finish and decoupage or stencilling with a crackle effect.

Karen & Gail working on their charger plates

We worked on a variety of pieces.  I thought it would be fun to paint on useful objects rather than just produce sample boards.  This was a bit of a time challenge as we were aiming at having 3 finished items each at the end of the class, but as Cait is such a brilliant tutor, it all worked out perfectly.

Busy bees!

Everybody produced a candlestick, a peg rack and either a small tray or a charger  plate.  It is great to see everyone's different ideas and how someone will choose a paint combination that you would never have thought of and it looks amazing!

Dark wax being applied

 
When you work with the Annie Sloan paints you quickly realise that the idea you had for your project can quickly change!  Sometimes you reach a point where you are happy and don't want to do any further effects or sometimes it's the opposite.  Each piece has to be taken on it's own merit, and go with the flow!


Proud painter!



Ta-dah!





Co-ordinating



The techniques used are all skills that can be applied to larger projects such as tables, dressers or kitchen cupboards!

Susan in the picture painted her pieces with the same base colour, this gave her a truly individual "set" of hand-painted pieces and looked extremely professional! Clever girl!

Her tray was decoupaged with fab French hens.  She is also a star as she took along extra aprons for everybody, love her!

 

 Another Miss Smarty-Pants ended up with a lovely set of pieces, hmm, kindamakes me think that the Ladies Wimbledon Trophy could do with a make-over?

I didn't get everyones finished items photographed but I can assure you that each & everyone was worthy of 10/10!  Thank you so much to all that came and of course a HUGE thank you to the talented Miss Cait who, by popular demand, WILL be coming back soon!

Slap Happy!

Me, slapping paint about!

Today was paint demo take2.  I was organised, AGAIN. This is getting worrying and must mean a pattern is forming!



Ahem, deliberate driftwood effect!



I had my paints all sorted on my newly painted step ladder, now a useful shelf!  I painted it in Country Grey then applied a liming wax to it.  It looks like driftwood!  A great combination and I have to admit, a happy accident!

A big thank you to all who came this week & last week.  I will be posting details of more demos and workshops soon.



Crowd shot!



Here's a sneaky preview of what the workshop MAY be producing!

Decoupage/Ageing/Shmooshing(?)/Crackle

New stock & a paint fix!

This handsome fellow is cast bronze and weighs a ton! He looks majestic on the wall!

This side table has a lot going for it, it has shelves for display, a drawer for storage & two extendable leaves!  It would look great in a hall or a bedroom.

Now this cute slim cupboard is just tres chic! It has a distressed finish and lots of character.

The final "French" piece is this beautiful 3 tier, bow front shelf unit. The lovely detailing makes it a very elegant focal point of any room. I love it!  The glass jars are so cute! They have little birdies on the lids!

Now for a paint fix!!!! This tea trolly was a very sad and shabby looking affair.  I looked at it and thought of bygone days with tea-ladies pushing a trolley laden with empire biscuits & a huge pot of tea!!

As per Annie Sloan paint, no sanding or preparation needed! My "vision" with this piece was very much 1940's stylee soooooo with a couple of coats of paint and a WW2 motto, the background to the original poster is very interesting, read it here