It's Almost Here

   What a great weekend it has been to work on pieces for the upcoming sale.  Remember it starts this Friday at 10 am!

    

This morning, I was able to get the last paint color in the palette done  and I am so pleased with the way it turned out. Interestingly enough, it's No.1 and it was daughter number one who helped me get it just right. That's because she has such a good eye for color.  She's going to claim "favorite" after reading this post!

Wrapped Around My Pinky

     A good friend suggested that I explain a little more about chalk paint, not to be confused with chalkboard paint.  This is paint with an additive that makes it chalky and powdery.  It is incredibly durable and sticks to just about anything.  If you think about what chalk is, one of the main ingredients is calcium carbonate, which is lime.  Lime washes and paint have been used as far back as 7 B.C. in Rome.  They were used in frescos and the outside of buildings and homes.  So, my version is a modern day mix of paint, primer, and lime.  I love the way it covers, sands, and dries quickly. When  sealed with a soft wax and buffed it has the look of a fine old finish.

Child's Chair

     The color, "Wrapped Around My Pinky," reminds me of Calamine lotion, which brings back all sorts of memories of summer, and the family farm in the Pineywoods of East Texas.  Calamine was, and still is, a staple for any kind of bite, and we'd be covered in pink dots of dried lotion after a weekend shared with mosquitoes and chiggers! 

     "Orange You Gorgeous" is inspired by a family memory as well.  My grandmother loved this orangey/coral, and at the farm, there were old trunks at the foot of her bed painted this color. Her kitchen set had it as well. 

"Orange You Gorgeous"

     I've got more pieces in the almost finished category and will post pictures over the next couple of days. 

     See you at The Barn!

He makes beautiful things,

Yvette

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

Welcome, February

     Happy February! Thank you, God! Now, if you keep reading, I'm just warning you, it goes downhill from here. Surely you will say, "Wow, Debbie Downer! Guess I'll go curl up in the fetal position now." I'll do my best to rebound at the end, but for a few minutes, I just need to get some things off my chest.
     Could we please keep getting on with this 2012 thing? Because I am so ready to move as far away from 2011 as I can. The past year has been kind of surreal. Beating breast cancer was a high and losing my best friend to lung cancer was a low. Questioning why I got off so easily, and her having to endure such pain left me empty. Having our first grand baby boy was a high. Not having that same best friend here to share in the joy of the blessing was a low.

     I don't take lightly that God has blessed our family in so many ways, but parts of this messy life are, well, messy. And sometimes it's not fun, and sometimes it breaks your heart, and sometimes it just sucks.

     Let me get the sucky part off my chest first. I.miss.Lynne. I miss her every day. She was the friend I talked to every day. February marks the month of her birth. She's a leap year baby, so she only got to have 14 real birthdays. Since this was to be her 15th, we considered a Quinceanera. Now that she's at the biggest, best party of all, hanging out with Jesus, anything we would have planned pales in comparison. But a group of us are going on with the Quinceanera theme anyway. If you are not familiar, Google it. Interestingly enough, it's a rite of passage. We're already looking for fabulous dresses and intend to wear tiaras.  I am sure it will be a very strange night, celebrating as we know she would want us to, but missing her so. She was always the life of the party and she and I planned so many together.  Here's a picture of all of us at my oldest daughters wedding.  We pulled off a big one that night!  My daughter described it as perfection.

The Chicks!





We were such a good team. Suck. Suck. Sucky, suck suck. When her husband passed away unexpectedly 5 years ago, "suck" became a choice word for our little group. Sorry to say it so many times, but after awhile it makes you laugh, right? Say Suck, Suck, Sucky, suck suck without laughing. Sucks, doesn't it? Potty mouth.
     Moving on. In the midst of this heartache, my very big God is always there, caring about the details. A friend posted on Facebook this week, "God blesses us every day, it's up to us to notice it." Yep. True words. So it's time to start noticing. I hope my venting didn't scare you off. Just being honest.

     Guess it's time to come out of hibernation and get busy at the barn.         

     Which reminds me- I am having my first Sale at the Barn this month! I have wanted to do this for awhile, and it seems February 24 is when it will happen. I have been collecting so many neat pieces and this time, some smaller accessories, too. I think you'll like the selection and hope you'll come!





Pictures coming soon.

He makes beautiful things,
Yvette

My Beautiful Friend

     Time has been a precious commodity the past few weeks as I have spent every possible moment with my beautiful best friend, Lynne.  As God prepares her for eternity, I have been given such a gift in the hours spent by her side and sharng that time with the people who are so important in her life.

 

     I went to the barn for awhile to have some quiet time and to paint.  It was a little overwhelming to think of the work that has been put aside for more important endeavors, but what I found was that my amazing husband, Clay, had been there painting and sanding for hours on end so that I could be with Lynne.  There are people in your life who pick up the pieces behind you and most of the time they don't get the thanks and appreciation they deserve.  Well, I have one amazing husband and I want the world to know it!
    
     Since he had gotten all the basics done, I got to work on the finish sanding.  This is my favorite part because it is the stage that really gives the piece its character.  Starting with a coffee table, I began to smooth the edges and the paint came off in fine layers.  It was such a delicate finish, easy to work with, and just a little of the original finish showing through. The finished product is so pretty, and very elegant, I think.

     The next was a side table.  As I started to sand, little chips came off here and there.  I had to work a little harder on this one because the paint came off in a different way, giving the piece a unique character.  It's more rough around the edges, and has a rustic finish. 

     I began to think about why one was so much easier than the other and how the paint reacts differently to the sanding process.  I realized that the way the paint sands off all depends on what's underneath it. Each piece is made differently and the base may be solid wood or a veneer that's chipped, patched and glued.
     
     Really?  Can I connect this furniture refinishing thing back to God again?  Well, Jesus was a carpenter, after all. 
   
      As God molds me into who He wants me to be, sometimes He can just smooth away a little on the edges to reveal something inside.  At other times, He has to chip away at the finish a little harder to  achieve His desired outcome.  It all depends on what's underneath, but either way, the finished product is a beautiful thing.
    
     So, I am reflecting on what's underneath this chipped, patched and glued veneer. Am I going to make His work easy today, or am I going to need a bit more sanding? 

See you Thursday- Saturday! 

He makes beautiful things,
Yvette

    

Sneak Peek

     In one week, we will be having our fall sale.  It starts next Thursday, October 20.  Our pieces will once again be upstairs at Blithe Boutique, 112 South First.  Over the weekend, you will also want to visit Hello Holidays at Behannon's Warehouse, Heritage Antiques Vintage Flea Market in their parking lot on Saturday, Standpipe Coffee House and newly opened A Furniture Fetish.

     In an earlier post, I mentioned some wonderful paint that a friend introduced me to. Turns out, it's been around awhile and I can't quite figure out how I missed it! That's kind of how I roll, though.  I tend to embrace trends a year or two after they become trendy.

     It's Annie Sloan chalk paint and I am so in love with it.  The finishes turn out so beautifully.  Here are a couple of pieces that will be in the sale.  The color is French Linen.

Side Table or Night Stand

Small Display Cabinet  24" Tall

More pictures are coming.

See you at the sale !

Thursday through Saturday 10-6 each day.

He makes beautiful things!

Yvette







My Favorite Fall Color is Pink

     As we say in Texas, Happy Fall Y'all! 

     God has blessed us this morning with beautiful skies and cooler temps.  I love fall. In East Texas, we don't really get much change between seasons- but the sunrises and sunsets this time of year are amazing.  There is one particular overpass in town that if you hit just right heading north at sunset, provides the most glorious display of pinks.  They are colors that could not be created by anything other than a Divine hand.

     Funny that He chooses pink for fall, since October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month.  My mind is on cancer a lot these days, being so grateful for mine to be cured a little over a year ago, and having so many friends fighting with such courage and grace.  It's been a particularly emotional few days with my best friend who is going to be under Hospice care starting today. 

     Jessica told me last night to be sure to check out their new window display at Blithe today before the streets are closed this afternoon for a party downtown.  I was up early, worried about my friend, and no one else was up, so I drove down to have a look.  I had to pull over and have a good cry.

The quote is from Anne Frank and it says,

"I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains."

     I am humbled by my most amazing family and still shake my head at how God has blessed me so.  The quote honors so many, but my precious Lynne is at the forefront as she has fought this lung cancer battle with God by her side and with all she has to give.  And she has done it with grace.  And she has done it with courage. And she has done it with beauty. 

He makes beautiful things out of the dust.

Yvette

Back at the Barn

 We're back after a family filled summer and a few wonderful trips. I got to visit New York City on a buying trip for Blithe Boutique: a first for me, and I loved everything about it. I came home with some great fabric that will soon be covering some of my summer finds! The girls loved helping me drag two large black trash sacks of fabric through the streets of New York and onto the subway. Getting it divided between luggage and carry-on was another feat, but my suitcase came in at 50.0 pounds! Whew!


We also went to Cozumel for the wedding of a beautiful young woman who is just like one of our own. While shopping downtown one day, look what we found!

There are Beautiful Things in Cozumel too!












     Clay and I went to San Antonio for my final appointment a year after my breast cancer surgery. They told me there would be no need to see me again unless I had any problems. Well, I don't plan on having any, so I guess they won't see me again! :) I was very blessed with an amazing team of doctors and nurses and I feel a little sad that I won't see them any more, but gratefully celebrate God's goodness during the journey.
     Once we were done, we hit every Goodwill and Salvation Army we could find. Clay has grown to love the thrill of the find almost as much as me, and he sure is handy to have around when tables need legs taken off. I have always called my Murano a truck because it has an amazing capacity to be filled with stuff. That weekend was no exception! We loaded two dining tables (legs removed), a queen sized rice bed, two side tables, a display shelf, a 2x3 ft. mirror, and two child's chairs. No joke! Here it is!

     A week later, I was on the road again to New Braunfels where my oldest, "bestest" friends and I meet to tube the Comal every year. We spotted a few finds and they even helped me disassemble and load an antique daybed into the Murano truck. One of the group, Karen, told me about some paint she had been reading about and wanting to try. It's become my new obsession. I'll be posting about it in the next few days and will show my first couple of pieces.

     Now that we're reconnected, it's time to get busy at the barn on the amazing pieces for the Hello Holidays sale in October. Good to be back and can't wait to share our latest Beautiful Things!

Yvette