I'm off to Tampa.....Three Workshops and precious time with Robyn Story

My favorite things to do.....travel, PAINT, meet people and teach beautiful techniques to others interested in learning Annie Sloan Chalk Paint applications.
I get to do all of  these things for the next 5 days and when I return my friends will
pick me up at the airport and we will head north up the California Coast to Paso Robles where I will (we will) enjoy the Remnants of the Past Event. I will hook up with the 3 Speckled Hens to pick up information for their show in May, which Vicki, the other California Stockist, and I will be demonstrating and introducing the Chalk Paint and all the magic it lets us create. Who knows, we may even invite attendee's to come "play with the product" and just let the paint flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

So.....until I return...I wish you all a wonderful Easter and week. Don't forget to learn a new word and learn something new that's out there in this world.

WORKSHOP TECHNIQUES:

Crackle

A lime wash for a weathered look

A two color

A beautiful antiquing look

A 'clouded/stipple' look

I want to send my love to my husband and my boys, Gus and Amos....it's hard to
leave them as often as I have been lately and I know it isn't easy for them for me to be away as much as I have been either. I am so lucky to have their love and support.

A wonderful time of the year.....

This time of the year I seem to reflect a lot on family and past celebrations. (It is said one does this at the end of one's life, oh please, let this not be so).

I love Easter although this year I will miss it completely as far as ham, chocolate eggs,family time and even coloring eggs for a "hunt". I leave Easter morning for Tampa to join Robyn Story of Robyn Story Designs in her debut of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshops. I already know it will be a hoot and very successful because that is who Robyn is. A hoot.....very successful and a true delight and woman. I am so privileged to have met her in New Orleans at Annie's workshop and also to be a "team" Stockist and cultivate a "bi-coastal" working relationship as well as a new friend and "sista".

Robyn Story

I have been asked how I got into paint and design and I have to say, I owe it all to my mother and grandmothers. With Spring cleaning came new wallpaper and fresh applications of paint. The wallpaper in my room would have to last 3-4 years but the wallpaper usually had several colors to choose from for a freshly painted bedroom. We would look at paint strips and then I'd come home from school and there waiting for me were paint, brush and rollers. I learned at a very early age how to cut in and how to sew new bedding and curtains.

My mother and my grandmothers encouraged me always to go for the "brass rings" and to always dream big. I was given a note from my mother on my birthday one year, I want to share it with you and then add in a "smile box" with a very special song and pictures of all my "mothers" that have impacted my life and encouraged me to be the person only I can be, myself.   You'll also see at the end some photo's of furniture that depict our beautiful colors.

"once there was a girl, and she was unique and talented and interesting and amazing and unforgettable....and real. She knew, deep down, that if she tried something and it didn't go as she had hoped or wanted or dreamed or planned, she could just try something different - or try the same thing again but approach it in a new or different way - and one day her greatest hopes and dreams could actually come true.

and so her life was full of all these amazing and unforgettable moments, events, and circumstance: incredible wins, of course, but also equally incredible - and worth it - losses. No matter what happened, she learned from everything around her and everything she went through. Yes, she fell sometimes (like everybody else does), but she got up and moved forward by always being true to herself. She hoped that maybe one day she could even make a path for others to follow.....until they each could make their own paths, too.

you see, it's not that she was never frightened or sad or even knew when she woke up each day what to do, it was simply that she believed in herself and always shined on like a star because she was a STAR, whether alone or among others shining too in the Universe."

Customize an ecard

I wish you all a very beautiful Easter and the next time I post I will have photo's from Tampa as well as photo's from an event up the coast, Remnants of the Past, which I hope to purchase lots of goodies for my much neglected paint brushes that need to be picked up and start creating.

House of Anne and world of PAINT

I'm back from a wonderful trip to The Tattered House and Sonoma

I had such a great time at The Tattered House in Roseville....our workshop in the front yard, was so much fun and I met so many wonderful enthusiastic "chalk paint" students.  Thank you Sandi and Erika for being such wonderful "hostess's".We'll be back.

Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

After I left Roseville I headed to Napa and Sonoma for three days of r&r, and of course a little wine tasting. I found two great shops, Sonoma Country Antiques and European Furniture and Chateau Sonoma. I am trying to put together "workshops in the wine countries", Temecula, Santa Ynez Valley (Solvang), Paso Robles, and of course Sonoma/Napa Valley. If we can work out all the particulars, the workshop in Sonoma will be held the end of July at a very exclusive "barn" and store. I'll fill you in as things are clarified and confirmed. I'm trying to twist Annie Sloans arm to join me....I'm going to keep twisting and maybe throw in a little "begging" too. 
I'd like to show you a few photo's from the beautiful store, Sonoma Country Antiques and European Furniture and thank Tehra for taking time to share and giving me a tour of the property.

Sonoma Wine Country

I will post again later in the week sharing some new event dates and workshops as well as the tour to
London, Oxford UK in September, the cruise in January 2012 and....a new one being worked on now to
Provence, France.

Please feel free to comment....I love hearing from you.

just a little afternoon sun and R & R

You have to see this......

It's unusual for me to post twice in one day but I have to show you this. Since Tuesday, when the Annie Sloan Shipment arrived with our yummy paints plus the six new colors, I have been working into the wee hours of the morning to get the orders matched, packaged up and shipped out to very "patient" customers. This morning I took a deep breath and the end of the shipment is ready for pick up and out for delivery. Whew! No complaints....just wanted you to see the four deep boxes on the pallet and know why I am ready for my road trip to Roseville for a workshop at The Tattered House on Sunday and then a couple days of R&R with my camera.

I am so excited about Annie's Chalk Paint/Products/Workshops and Events...thankful for all my fellow Stockists and looking forward to all the new adventures ahead with Vicki, Kari and Kellyanne on the West Coast and Robyn Story's  "gala event" in Tampa on the East Coast. I am truly blessed.  Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

arrival of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Almost down unpacking "pots of paint"

I couldn't wait to see the 6 new colors....love them!

The LASTof the shipments to wonderful customers.....I can't get in or out of my door!

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead.....and don't forget to check my website for "tax day" SPECIALS.

On the Road Again....this time to The Tattered House in Roseville for a front yard Annie Sloan Workshop

It's been a crazy week and it isn't over yet. I have last minute things to do, like packing up materials for the workshop as well as packing up for me, there is always morning right?

I want to show you some lovely pieces of furniture created in a workshop. Also some great pieces that need to go to a workshop to become lovely. Always think "paint and what can I do to re purpose and bring a new life to a tired piece of furniture.

add some molding

use two or even three colors to capture the character

don't forget, gilding can add a lot for a "punch"

You can always paint what you "see" before you begin your project, that way you have a plan

and remember....architectural pieces need re purpose too and add interest in areas

dated pieces of honey oak - before

after....is there oak in there or is it cherry?

again.....before

after...a whole new office including the old oak desk

Furniture needs new life too, just get out your brushes and paint. You can't go wrong with our Chalk Paint and techniques, if you don't like what is happening, STOP and begin again. Painting saves you hours of "therapy".

Paint!

Have a great week a head and I'll be back after my adventure in Roseville and R&R with my camera.

Be sure and check my website www.houseofanne.net next on the 15th, 16th and 17th for a "tax day special".

Wednesday is yet another precious day...one to reflect part of the week that has happened and also to look ahead at what is left to happen in the 14th week of 2011

I could talk about the paint shipment I received yesterday with 6 new colors and how today I have shipped over 30+ orders to customers, I hope I will meet one day and I also hope will send me photo's of all the projects they are using our Annie Sloan Chalk Paints on, but you know what, while I was packaging, making labels and listening to music, a song came on the radio that actually made me take a break, sit down and listen to the words. I am going to add a one photo smile box, yes again, and while you listen to the words yourself, let it be a reminder of how valuable and rare people in our lives are to us.....and most importantly our actions towards our precious families and friends and why we are really here in this wonderful world.

I am going to include the writing after the smile box.....read it....think about it
and remember that "words can never be taken back" once they leave your lips.

This greeting generated with Smilebox

"There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day cam when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence..He said, "you have done well my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.
When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out but it won't matter how many time you say "I'm sorry", the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember, family and friends in your life are very rare jewels."


Ok, since this post should be photo's of painted furniture and other beautiful design creations, just pretend it's my Sunday "personal" post. Until the next one when I address all the events that are happening soon. Happy "hump" day everyone.

It's going to be a GOOD DAY TODAY............

Who can sleep, I am so excited about the paint delivery today and finally getting all the orders filled and out. Thank you everyone for your patience, Annie's paint and products have taken off like wildfire.

I'll post again before I leave for The Tattered House in Roseville, CA where I'll be giving a workshop "in the yard" on Sunday, April 10th from 1-5 P.M. I can't wait to
show off some of the techniques and applications that are created from the Chalk Paint and waxes. Vicki Shoemaker from 3 Oaks Studio in Clovis, CA will be joining me and there will be FUN had by all.

Here's a little smile box of The Tattered House. Note that the photo's were taken in January when I first visited them and I'm sure everything has changed....but I want you to see the charm and quaintness of this wonderful "find" in Northern California.

Personalize your own free slideshow

The next post I will share are the new paint colors arriving today and just what a delivery looks like of a palette of paint.

Have a great day!

oh my.......oh Blog.......oh what happened with my week and with "half dones"????

I really want to be dedicated to my blog.....I also want to blog about certain passions in my life like my family......design....."half dones"....Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Products, so I can see what's been completed. Well, that won't happen a lot tonight, because I didn't complete a whole lot this past week. I am the painter/designer that hasn't completed a fireplace in her home....that has a terminally ill woman living in her closet and that just wants to SIT DOWN for one hour knowing she shouldn't sit down but probably should dote on her husband knowing what is going to take place in the next 7 days, maybe even feels a little guilty (man, I do not like that word). Am I making sense? I realize I write exactly like I talk....so I hope you keep up.

This week was awesome....I did get to spend time in MY ROOM painting samples and even giving a workshop. I met up with Kari, the new "mini-stockist" in Southern California and we are planning an event at her studio in Ensinitas on the 16th.

Kari and my workshop on the 16th

I painted "color stixs"...boring.....I  hand painted color charts....boring,  and the worst of all of it...I had to wash the brushes. Ugh!

Paint charts...hand painted and a PAIN

Paint stixs and charts.....think this is fun?

paint stixs and charts.....and lots of paint

Oh shoot...I took a photo of all the paint brushes but I guess I plum forgot to down load it....could it because i was born in the 40's (late 40's) and I forgot?  I just want to get this posted as I promised myself I would
be dedicated to my blog.

I want to post photo's of what I have completed this week....and "stuff" did talk to me.  I painted a couple french dish racks.....I painted a mirror.....I painted many, many samples......and I want you to know, I painted my hands and nails many different shades of color.

before

a great crackle and ......

after........crackle and OLD WHITE

look at the worn down yellow farm shelf.....before

after using Emperor's Silk....

Many things to show.....even the screen door and orchard ladder have "spoken"....stay tuned.


I am so excited because this week I leave for The Tattered House in Roseville, CA to give a workshop and "debut" Annies wonderful products with the other California Stockist, Vicki Shoemaker.  When I return I join Kari Caldwell Saupstad for an all day workshop which I showed you above......and then I am home for a few days...have another all day workshop at THE ROOM in Canyon Lake and leave on Easter Sunday for Tampa, Fla. when I will be sharing in a workshop with Robyn Story at her Store.  Robyn is a new Stockist for Annie Sloan and what a "woman" and a person that thinks outside of the box.  We have had soooooo much fun sharing in a bi-coastal exchange of ideas totally outside of the creative box.  We will have so much fun and I'd post her flyer but I believe that is her privilege.

When I return I will post all the events, The Three Speckled Hens, Retreat Style Vintage Event.....etc. etc. that are planned and will be attended.  I am so overwhelmed with the response of wonderful people and contacts for our new products.

Also....in just two days I will post the London/Oxford trip in September and the Holland American Cruise in January 2012.  Everyone is invited and we will have a grand and memorable time.

Ok, I will end now......if I knew how to put the Playlist on here the song "My Story" would be playing...but I haven't learned how yet.  I will learn how to do that this week because I love music and music is a huge part of my life and where I am in my life....daily, weekly, monthly and by the years.

Thank you for your patience......I will surprise you in the next few weeks......my love for design and photography will kick in big time.