Happy Paint

      Designer chalk paint...you had me at "Hello!"  What a joy to work with a product that requires no priming, gives a smooth, matte finish, is easy to sand, and holds up beautifully. Honestly, though, my Scottish heritage has had me trying to figure out a thriftier way to achieve the same result.
 
     First off, and there's no real secret here, they make paint with primer included. Next, I researched Pinterest and tried all the recommended duplications.  After testing them all, I am happy to have arrived at what I think is a reasonable facsimile. And it costs about 1/3 as much. It is smooth, sands easily, is durable when waxed or sealed, and covers in two coats. The designer brand claims one coat coverage, but I found it really does take two if you want complete coverage. And since priming is not necessary (doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the primer is already in the paint...) two coats isn't bad.  Being able to make custom colors was also a plus.
      

 Here's the preview piece!  Isn't she adorable?

Paint color: "Sea you at the Beach " with dark wax.

     At the first Sale at the Barn beginning March 2, as well as Round Top preview, which is the last weekend in March, I thought I would offer my palette for those do-it-yourselfers whose projects include pieces of furniture and accessories. I will be selling pints, since most projects don't require a quart and you end up with lots of quarts of paint sitting on shelves that you'll never use again. A pint is plenty for a table, dresser, or smaller piece of furniture, and at $10, will not cause the guilt that ensues after paying $35 for a quart of the designer stuff.

    
     The colors are a result of things I love, matched at the home improvement center, then made into paint. This paint gives a smoother finish than some of the other recommended recipes and it doesn't thicken like the others. After a couple of hours, the methods using joint compound or plaster of Paris, get spongy and thick.

     The paint names are inspired by kids. My real job (the one that actually pays and provides insurance) is being a second grade teacher to some hilarious 7 and 8 year olds.  They take things very literally and make working on vocabulary very entertaining. The names remind me of things they say. Like, " Can I have a piece of Vanilla Paper to draw on?"  The best ever was when I taught contractions and one of my students wrote this sentence using the contraction, we're:

"Every car have a we're end."  

     I think I'm actually a really good teacher, but it's gotta make you wonder sometimes!  I treasure that little piece of paper and the memories of the precious child who wrote it.

    
     These colors are the first ones to be available. Pictures of pieces with each of the colors will be posted before the Sale at the Barn.

Wrapped Around My Pinky

Knox Three Times

A Fit of Greige

Vanilla Paper

Sea You at the Beach

I'm Pond of You

Orange You Gorgeous

See you at the Sale at the Barn, March 2-4 at 601 S. Bynum in Lufkin!

Here's to some happy painting! 

He makes Beautiful Things,

Yvette