This was a hard, fast and spinning week!

I have meant to post all week and include all the beautiful photos I took at Amy Howard's workshop/training last week in Memphis, Tenn. It was awesome working with an incredible Designer and her staff, that have a vision, business plan and work ethics that benefit not only the consumer but all the Distributors and Artisans involved with Amy Howard At Home.

I am so excited. I will be the Distributor for AZ and Northern California, Santa Barbara to the border....you know what that means, Carmel, San Francisco, Wine Country and Tahoe.....it's almost as good as "going home again".

I am leaving today for Seattle, a quick trip to assist The Bella Bungalow in painting and getting ready for their grand opening in November. I'm actually excited to share a whole "48 hours" with my daughter Kellyanne and PAINTING myself.
We will have fun, just wait til you see what she transformed from an ugly old small town tavern into a beautiful shop and studio.

If you'll excuse me now I promise to fill you in on Amy Howard adventures and events. Oh, for clarification, Amy Howards techniques and finishes are totally different than Annie Sloan Chalk Paint....that is what really excites me. Different challenges and territories, truly a great thing for my Gemini make-up and mind. From flea markets and refurbishing to total elegance and refinement.

Hand made furniture and decorative accents. 

You can have this too.....I'll teach you the custom finish and technique use......

Ok....off to Seattle....I will go into detail next week about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshops, who won the "pink" contest and more on Amy Howard At Home.
Have a great weekend

A brand new product and design technique......I'll post soon

Just a tease.....I'll post tomorrow but I want you all to get ready for a "lifestyle change" in the world of decorative finishing techniques. Sophistication and refinement of beautiful designs....you are going to love what now you can do in your own homes. Until tomorrow.....

I have to post this before I leave in the morning....

This is too funny! I got home after a wonderful demo at the Urban Barn....lots of people asking great questions after teasing them with the magic of a wonderful paint and wax that was created for "girls" but "boys" can use it too.

My husband has been a trooper the past year watching me come and go to different events and organizing for monthly and weekly workshops. I keep telling him things
will settle down (namely me)and then off I go picking up a new line and designated territory. (stay tuned and I will share everything when I return at the end of the this week). Anyway, when I returned home tonight I found this on my computer screen....very appropriate since I just visited the pub in Oxford where C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to share their writings and plot their stories. I'm sure
this quote was meant for me.

Have a wonderful week.

I'm back from the UK and great fun with friends...

If I seem a little hurried in this post it's because I am. Today I wear many hats, I must think I can do a great juggling act as well as wear designated hats for all the things I must get done today to support the Mini-Stockists in So. California, demo and stock at the Urban Barn, return phone calls, iron up what I have to pack in order to leave town in the morning for an intense training program for Amy Howard at Home, a new product line I will carry as a Distributor for Northern California and Scottsdale, AZ.
All I can say is, it's a good thing I'm healthy and love organization as well as scheduling. And it's also a good thing I have a wonderful, patient husband who supports me in my adventures.

I arrived back from the UK late Thursday night....what a great time.  There is nothing like sharing places with wonderful friends and family.

I walked my legs off all over London as well as Oxford and York. I am a history buff and putting that together with Design, I was in my glory. A  highlight of
my trip was the Kempton Flea Market outside of London....what a hoot. Yes, I found many wonderful pieces, coordinated with a "container" expert and now must wait for the journey across the Atlantic to my own back yard. They make it so reasonable and so easy to bring these treasures home, I recommend it for anyone that values European pieces for resale, repurpose or refinement.

I am adding a slide show so you can have a peak at what exactly my great finds are.

Slideshow design customized with Smilebox

After looking at the slide show can you tell that I am addicted to chairs, tables and desks? Let the fun begin.

Many, many things happening and I promise to post when I return this Thursday. Great workshop dates, a new website "face lift", Amy Howard at Home Distribution to kick off, The Bella Bungalow's open house to attend in Washington state, North Carolina Train the Trainer and Washington D.C. and Halloween festivities with my son and family for a few days. I'll also have photo's to post on the vignettes we are staging for the
photo shoot with Romantic Homes.....very exciting.

I wish you all a wonderful week and I'll have lots to share in the upcoming posts.  Be sure to check for the October product special....you can't miss out on this one.

Just enjoying life while waiting for the train....don't forget to "smell the roses" and take time for yourself

I will write tomorrow......so much is happening and I need to breathe

I love finger painting the new three beautiful colors just arrived

I apologize for not posting in the last couple weeks......I been letting the 'paint fly' and no grass grow under my feet.  Tomorrow will be different and I will be back to post about 2012 's wonderful trip planned for 18-20 decorative artists that want to make a difference.  This trip will be in a beautiful part of the world and our talents will be forever treasures.  Yes, there will be plenty of time for "you" and relaxation. too.

If you haven't signed up for the January cruise to the West Caribbean it's not to late.....Annie Sloan will be giving demo's on both days at sea and other than that it is a kick back renewing cruise.  Yes friends and husbands are invited.  See my web site for reservations.

I shall be back tomorrow.....until then.....dream land is calling.

I can hardly wait for morning....it's almost better than a holiday

I had a hard time sitting still tonight because in the morning bright and early I am heading out and meeting Debbie Cooper from "round the coop" and we are hitting a couple wonderful events/shows. The first stop will be in Rainbow, California (yes there really is a town named Rainbow) and going to The Vintage Market Place where I am going to surprise Amber from The Black Rooster Cottage and give her a "pot of paint"   wait to try on some of her "goods". There will be several vendors there to meet also and I'm sure Debbie and I will be looking for those perfect "finds".

Next stop....you got it....

Matilda's Mouse Antiques is over the top with wonderful wonderful treasures and every event the theme is different....this time it is "French Farmhouse Harvest Event". There will be French harvest tables, primitive cupboards, hutches, chairs and statuary.....ooooooh la la is all I can say.

This all takes place in the coolest barn and properties that belonged to non other than Betty Crocker, yes like in cake mixes. All I can say it is wonderful and I wished you all could join us there to do a little pushing and positioning of place in line because that's what is expected of you....patience and waiting your turn to browse and pay up. A little secret though, I love the grounds around the outside of the barn as well as the inside. Take a look at the photo's below and see what I came home with last time.

I'm addicted to wire baskets

I can't get enough porch railings

Fiddle is on my mantle and guess where you'll find the baptismal fount and cabinet?

I wonder where I have this hanging in my "room"

I love spindles and posts..I hope I will find another box full

Give me any kind of tin

I will post again this weekend and show you just what you missed out on.

I want to let everyone know that the Paint 'n' Wine Country Benefit and Decorative Paint Workshop that was scheduled for November 9th at South Coast Winery in Temecula, CA. has been rescheduled until February 2012. The benefit is for the Thessalonika Home for abused children (4 Kidsfirst.org) but I will still give a "Halloween" gourd painting "hour" for the children in October as planned. It will be a wonderful workshop/event and we, Vicki from 3 Oaks Studio and I are looking forward to putting it on and giving back to a much needed cause.

I am signing off and hoping my eyelids will stay shut for just a few hours.

Fall is soon here.....and a lot of changes are coming besides "colors"

I will post tomorrow about everything that is taking place in "the house of anne".

I have missed writing but don't want to just write about anything. So, I have taken
some time to regroup and direct my energies just a little differently.

I hope your Labor Day holiday was as renewing as mine. Until later this week......

The window valance is really painted.....this is my favorite room in the house.

home sweet home in Southern California