The Magic Brush, Inc.

Look quick....my office will never be this clean again.

2012-05-21T21:03:00.001-07:00

Last week, I had a photographer from a local Kansas City magazine come to my house to shoot some of our faux finished walls for an article on The Magic Brush. The magazine is called "Northland Lifestyles" and our house will be in the June 1st issue. I can't wait!

This was the 2nd time our house has been photoed and I secretly love every second of it!

I was taking pictures of the lady taking pictures.

I amuse myself. I found it hilarious and I told her it was "bloggable".

She was kind enough to let me do it.

And she didn't even complain if my flash was interfering with her pics. Or when I asked her to stand still for a minute.

She was cool like that.

She told me she didn't have any kiddos of her own, but she was patient as all get out with my kiddo.

The pretty, pretty princess didn't want to leave the room.

So, Angela shot right over her.

In all honesty, I didn't want to leave the room either.

Do you see how CLEAN it is????

Not a speck of dust to be found.

Not a post it note.

Not a to do list.

Not an uncharged ipod, overdue library slip or magazine reorder form to be found!!!!!

I would like to take a moment of silence to appreciate the tidiness of my office for that shoot.

It lasted all of about 1 hour 27 minutes and 51 seconds.

Then, I had to remember where I stashed all my crap at and dig it out back out.

Y'all know this picture is my reality, right????

LOL.

Sorry to disappoint you all, but I am just keepin' it real.....

Maybe not Robins Egg Blue....but wayyyyy better painted!

2012-05-14T20:20:00.001-07:00

I finished a buffet this week to sell at The Red Apron sale this weekend. I used the color "Juneau Springs" from Benjamin Moore and really thought it would be a soft "robin's egg blue"....

When I posted this pic on my Magic Brush Facebook page (please LIKE me!).....I was still thinking "robin's egg".

But it's really more of a turquoise.....

And with 2 coats of paint....it definitely intensified the blue-ness.

I don't mind. I love the color.

(the before pic)

Anything is better than this.

Which reminds me.....someone commented on my MB FB page....(yes, please LIKE it)....

That "some things are not meant to be painted".

I am totally unoffended.

But, I can't think of one single thing that isn't meant to be painted.

Can you??
LOL.

PS....the blue buffet is for sale at The Red Apron at 1090 H Highway, Liberty MO this Friday and Saturday for $350.

Feeling blue, blue, blue......

2012-05-09T20:32:00.002-07:00

My husband found me this gorgeous buffet to repaint. I originally said I wanted to paint it green.

Someone told me to try red for a change.

Someone else reminded me black always sells.

But the minute I needed to pick a color, I was feeling blue, blue, blue......

Yes, the science of "color selection" often comes down to a "fly by the seat of my pants feeling" for me.

That's just how I roll.

Excited to finish it up tomorrow for The Red Apron sale next weekend in Liberty. Mark your calendars!

Living life through my toddler

2012-04-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is Ava in St. Louis with us a few weeks ago.

Isn't she precious???

I was so glad the lighting was just perfect for some amazing pictures on this afternoon.

As I pointed and clicked, I could help but marvel at the passion of toddlers.

They just can't help but live life with vigor and innocence and in-the-moment-ness.

In front of the arch and everyone.....

With absolutely no regard to grass stains....

Or who is watching.....

Or if their hair will be messed up.....

Or if they will be covered in chigger bites.

And then just as quickly as they enjoy one thing.....

....they are off and running to another equally amazing and interesting thing.

I love the passion of my children.

Some days, I long to just throw caution to the wind and join them in their in-the-moment-ness.

Perhaps the next time I will.

As long as there are no chiggers or grass stains looming of course.

I give up! Just look at this post sideways.

2012-04-23T20:46:00.003-07:00

I had this great post all ready in my mind about the amazing cheetah print carpet my husband just installed in my closet for me.

I was going to brag about my kids and how they helped Daddy install extra shelving in my closet just for my shoes.....

And I was going to actually let you see my shoes and the closet in all it's glory......

But, then I noticed that AGAIN tonight.....Blogger is loading my pictures sideways.

And yes, I have checked my HTML.

Yes, I have tried to delete the pictures and re-add them.

Yes, I have turned off my computer and turned it back on.

No, I have not been drinking.

And yes, Blogger is making me want to drink.

And then totally randomly.....this last picture loaded correctly. It's the new "running/workout" shelf my man built for me.

Is there some hidden significance since this is the only picture that loaded the right way???

Is Blogger trying to tell me to get out and run?

Does Blogger think I am fat?

Have I officially lost my mind?

I give up. I'm just gonna start posting all my stuff SidEWayS.

Gender reveal...It ALMOST makes me wanna get pregnant again....

2012-04-16T20:32:00.001-07:00

Several of my friends are pregnant right now. Like this friend in Seattle expecting baby #1 in a few weeks, this friend in KC due with baby boy #4 in a few weeks and this friend.....one of my half marathon running partners, who just found out they are expecting a GIRL!!!!

My running friend, Ashley, asked me to help her paint something for their "gender reveal".

The first time I heard the words "gender reveal"....I was picturing some bad Maury Povich episode. What is a "gender reveal"????

It had to be explained it to me.

Pregnant momma and expectant daddy go to the OB for her sonogram.
But OB doesn't tell the expecting parents the baby's sex.
Instead, OB writes down the baby's sex in a sealed envelope.
Parents take the sealed envelope to a party store/florist.
Parents leave party store and go home to wonder why they are torturing themselves and delaying their own news to themselves!
Party people make blue or pink balloons depending on baby's sex. And in this case.....fill a box (that I painted for them) with the appropriate balloons.
Momma and Daddy pick up sealed balloon box and have a "Gender Reveal" moment with this amazing photographer.

How stinkin' adorable is that?

So, Ashley asked me to help paint the box that would be filled up with baby colored balloons.

Of course, I was thrilled to help!

But, that's a ton of pressure considering her reveal pictures have now gone viral on Pinterest.

Ok, maybe not quite viral....but they should be.....and they really have been pinned a bunch!

On a side note, I am thinking I will try to wear a sliggggggghtly more flattering outfit for Pinterest purposes next time.

And please don't judge my garage.

Or my overflowing recycle bin.

So, where were all these great ideas when I was last pregnant?????????

It almost makes me want to get pregnant again.

(me.....pregnant with Ava)

Until I remember my Fred Flinstone feet the last time I was pregnant.....and my now 40 year old body....and how I grow to the size of a small Volkswagon by the time I deliver my big babies.....and I reconsider.

Cuz' it's a blast watching my younger friends go thru the thrill of pregnancy.

And the fun new ideas like "reveal parties".

Congratulations Ashley and Kenneth!

Thanks for including me on your reveal project! Mwah!

Tale of 2 chalkboard tables

2012-04-15T20:23:00.004-07:00

I know my blogging has been sporadic at best for the last 2 weeks.

I am blaming it on my pictures loading sideways on every post I attempted.

I thought I was getting close to loosing my salvation, so I backed off posting. HA!

Anyhoo......

I bought 2 tables like this one from a friend this spring. They were old and rough, but solid with great bones!

I decided to make them both into chalkboard tables. I finished the bottoms of both of them first.

Then, I primed the tops dark. Followed my several coats of chalkboard paint and then I hot glued "chalk holders" to the side of each table.

This 'lil guy was almost cute enough to keep at the end of my hallway......

But, I painted it with the intention of giving it as a donation to an auction at a friend's school.

Notice the self portrait next to my brochures. I am no Picasso.....but the big, curly hair is clearly me!

The green one was super adorable....

This shade of green just looked amazing with the undertones of the wood.

I ended up giving this table back to the person I got them both from. It had originally been his mother's who just recently passed away. When I heard he loved the green table, it was a done deal for me.

So both of my chalkboard tables were given away.......one to a preschool and one to a friend.

It isn't always about selling stuff. Sometimes it just feels good to share the talent we have been given.

Don't throw out that old oak china cabinet

2012-04-10T19:50:00.002-07:00

Grandma's old china cabinet can look 20th century.....

Black paint.

Sanded edges.

Faux finish on the wall behind it.

Grandma's china cabinet is now alllllllllll goooooooooood.

Technical difficulties.....

2012-04-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Blogger is uploading most of my pictures side-aways right now.

In professional terms....the orientation is wrong.

In real people terms....I wanna kick my computer.

But I'm not much of a kicker.

(Oh isn't that sweet......it keeps the right orientation on a cartoon picture. Grrrrrrr........)

So bear with me as I google, email, ~~cuss~~ pray my way thru my next post.

If you struggle with this Blogger issue also....would you let me know?

And for goodness sake, if you know how to fix this....please help a sista out!

Making your own oversized chalkboard

2012-04-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Chalkboards are all the rage, right? I can't get enough of them! I've had so many of my clients lately ask me how to make them, so I thought I would put together a tutorial.

The key to a good chalkboard is a good frame!!!! You are looking for a framed PRINT with no glass on it that has a great frame!

Think Kirklands.

Think garage sale season.

Think of the ugly framed prints your grandmother used to have that are now in your attic. They are ugly, but the frames are cool.

If you can find a print with a cool frame...you are golden.

So what do you paint first? The print or the frame?

After painting about 1237 of them this winter (I exaggerate slightly)...

I have decided paint the frame first!!!!

Trust me on this.

If the frame is super slick or you are an OCD-ish person, it needs primed first.

If you are me......just spray the frame with a great color and ignore the priming.

After the frame is painted and CURED (you may need to wait a few days), tape it off (sorry this picture had no tape in it, but I swear I do tape) and then prime over the print.

Any water based primer works.

Even is the print is not smooth, but has a little texture....its totally fine.

I have gray primer at home and black chalkboard paint covers quicker over gray primer than white, so that's why I used gray primer. But any primer color will do.

I buy my chalkboard paint from Home Depot or Lowes.

And I ignore their directions.

I roll 3 coats of the chalkboard paint over the primer and call it done.

Then, you need to CUT THE TAPE off.

Again, trust me on this. Otherwise your chalkboard paint dries to it and it will peel the chalkboard paint off of your print.

And you will throw things. I promise.

So, cut the tape.

Here is a chalkboard I finished before Christmas.

And the red one with it's "non-Christmas-y twin". Both have a black glaze over the spray paint colors.

In the event you are hiding any of those Kirkland prints or grandma's framed prints in your basement....and DON'T WANT them anymore....please hook a sista up! Email me....I will take them off of your hands for you!!!

St Louis, the Duggers and Fun Dip....oh my.

2012-03-29T20:58:00.001-07:00

Blogging to you tonight before we take the AMTRAK in the morning to this fun city:

We are traveling with 5 other families who we love, love, love in celebration of my husband's 40th birthday!

Between us families, we have 15 kids.

Unless you count my Ava as 2....which really would make sense.....

You could probably count her as 3 kids on a day when I let her eat a Fun Dip.

Then we are nearing Dugger numbers....

Which makes me ask....how do they travel anywhere????
I'm not judging, I'm just merely saying.....that's a whole lots of snacks and underroos and blankets and walking shoes.

For an Amtrak, a train or an RV.

Yikes.

So I will be back blogging next week about something fabulous no doubt.

Until then,

I'm feeling blessed that I ran over this today in my garage and not a small child:

Double counting my blessings that it did NOT explode all over my SUV like it could have.

Hubby would NOT have been happy.

I am kind of secretly impressed by my running-over-the-can-halfway-then-reversing-off-it skills.

There should be medals for stuff like that.

Later friends.

STL....here we come!

I can't make this stuff up! Lessons I have learned in strangers homes!

2012-03-25T20:39:00.002-07:00

I have owned my own faux finishing company for 11 years. This means I am constantly going into the homes of complete strangers to look at their painting projects. Thankfully....I have always been safe.

I have, however, had a few scares. Since most of my blog followers are females, I wanted to share some safety tips with you! Because, unfortunately....there are crazy people everywhere!!

The following is a true story!

Once, several years ago, when I was very pregnant with my 2nd child......I went to a painting appointment. The home was about 45 minutes from my home and in a rural area. The home was set back on a long, long drive with iron gates leading into it. The gates were open for me. I thought the house was big and beautiful. But, I didn't like that no one could see me on their front steps and certainly no one would hear me if I got into trouble inside of the house.

LESSON #1- there is safety in numbers. I should have used google earth to see where I would be. And then after seeing I would be in a rural area...I should have taken someone with me.

The potential client couple let me into their home and locked the front door behind me. I notice every blind in the home is drawn shut and the house is very dark even in the middle of the day.

LESSON #2- if you are having a contractor to your home and don't want to freak them out.....don't lock them IN your home and perhaps make your house appear welcoming with a bit of sunshine and lights on!

I was in the home to look at the potential client's master bedroom. On the way to the bedroom, I notice gargoyles everywhere in their decor.

LESSON #3: Pay attention to your surroundings in a home. Look at their decor. I know some of you may disagree, but I think gargoyles are evil and demonic. I know some people believe they ward off evil, but I think they ARE evil. Get rid of the gargoyles in your home !!! They may look cute, but so do many other things that can kill ya.

After we step inside the master bedroom, I am absolutely stunned as the husband locks the door behind us. So now he, his wife and I are all LOCKED INSIDE of their bedroom. I can't make this stuff up. I was floored!

LESSON #4: It is never, ever, ever appropriate under any circumstances to lock a woman contractor in a bedroom with you. I should have bolted for the door then. If you don't want to freak someone out.....don't lock them anywhere!!!!

I had brought in my portfolio of samples in with me. I was now shaking because I was so nervous about getting killed in this home. But, not sure what to do.....I set the portfolio down on the floor and then ABOUT PASSED OUT as this potential husband client LAYED DOWN ON THE FLOOR to look at my sample boards.

LESSON #5: Unless you want me to think you are crazy or a swinger....never, ever, ever lay down on the floor in a room you have locked me into with you! How can you even flip thru sample boards laying down on the floor??? Talk about ackward!

Lord only knows which sample I suggested to them. I was writing notes like crazy....wishing I had brought my cell phone in the house with me.

LESSON #6: ALWAYS bring your cell phone into a home with you. And memorize how to dial 911 in your pocket if you have to.

Then, after selecting a faux for the bathroom that I knew I would never work in.....these crazy people asked me to come see their basement that they just remodeled. I knew that I knew that I knew that if I went to that basement something bad would happen to me and I would wind up on the 6:00 news. There was NO CHANCE I was going down to some torturous dungeon with them!

LESSON #7: Its ok to lie to save your life . You can say "I will look at your basement the next time I am here" even if you know full good and well you will NEVER return to this home! That was exactly what I did. The point is....get out if you feel like you are in danger!

I tried so hard not to RUN for the front door. But, I controlled my steps. I prayed.

LESSON #8: Pray BEFORE you go into the stranger's home!!!!!! It works so much better that way!

I called my husband the second I got into my car and told him if the iron gates to the property were closed, I was going to literally crash my truck thru them...pregnant and all. Thankfully they were not closed and I have lived to tell this story.

I had to be brave enough the next day to call this couple and tell them I was not interested in bidding their job. They asked me if I could refer them to someone else?

LESSON #9: Never, ever, ever recommend one of your competitors go to a gargoyle laden, door locking, blind drawing, husband laying house! We have to look out for one another!

In all seriousness, we live in a different world today ladies. Blogs, Facebook, Craigslist, the internet have all opened up a whole new can of worms for contractors.....especially female ones.

I recently had another home that I wasnt sure I was totally comfortable in, so my sister in law.....who happened to call as I was getting a few things out of my truck for the client.....stayed on the line for the remainder of the appointment. I just had my phone in my pocket and felt better knowing she could hear our conversation. Thankfully 99% of our clients and potential clients are amazing. But we still need to use wisdom for the other 1%.

Here are a few final tips:

Make sure when you go meet a client for the first time that someone knows the address of where you are going.

Make sure if you are uncomfortable in a home, you listen to your women's intuition and the Holy Spirit. No job is worth your safety. I have refused to bid 3 jobs over the years because I was so uncomfortable in those homes. Trust your instincts.....there is a reason you are uncomfortable!

Make sure when you meet a client for the first time that a woman will be at the client's home also so that it is not just you and a man alone. This is just a good boundary! Even if a man calls to make the appointment, it is ok to say things like "will your wife be available for the appointment?" or "are you using a designer who will be joining us?"

Make sure you don't judge a home by it's cover. Just because it's in a nice neighborhood, it doesn't make it safe!

Someday, maybe I will write a book on some of these crazy stories!

Our first appointment with foster care--- and Ava was a cow

2012-03-22T18:20:00.001-07:00

So a social worker from Jackson County came to visit our home this week. This was literally the first step in our foster-to-adopt process. We do not live in Jackson County, but are choosing to get certified in that county as they have more kids in foster care than any other county in Kansas City.

The social worker said she would be looking at our home to determine if it looked safe. To see if everything appeared normal. If we had enough room for a 4th child..... yada yada yada.

I secretly half-hoped she would say our house was too small so that we would have to build a new one.....but no such luck. The husband breathed a sigh of relief! ha!

I wasn't really nervous. Having already been through a home study, I knew basically what they were looking for.

They really don't care that I just shut the door on the very overflowing laundry room.

Or that I haven't cleaned my shower in months.

Or that Ava just ate a piece of candy she found on the floor.

They just want to make sure everything looks on the up and up.

Which is kind of funny......because ANYONE can act "normal" for 30 minutes, can't they???

The questions the state asks are VERY different from the private adoption agencies we are signed with. She asked our kids to leave the room because of the question's "sensitive nature". And thank goodness.

Her first few questions were like these:

Will you commit to not use binding and tying as a form of punishment for a child placed in your home?
Will you not withhold food as a means of punishment for a child placed in your home?
Will you not lock a child out of your home as a means of punishment?

This momma's heart hurt as her questions sank in.

There are so many hurting children in this world. What have we done to them Lord? If nothing else, have we just looked away???? I will never understand how a parent can hurt their child like that. It makes no sense. The gravity of it just pains me.

But, we survived the question and answer session.

We passed the "home inspection".

We asked a few questions, including my 10 year old who asked "so can you help us get a 1 or 2 year old sister?" Bless his heart.

And she left.

We start 13 weeks of foster class training the first week of May.

And I secretly freak out that this is really the direction God is wooing us in.

And I breathed a sigh of relief that our social worker was out the door before my Ava did this:

She climbed onto the banister and said "look mom.....I am a cow". And moo'd.

Yep, this is "normal".

I got nuthin'.

2012-03-20T20:27:00.002-07:00

I am absolutely, positively stretched to maximum capacity right now.

My husband turns 40 tomorrow.

Work is busy busy busy!!! (praise God!)

We had our first meeting today about adopting from the foster care system.

I am leaving town for the weekend to see my family in Iowa.

I haven't worked out in almost a week.

I am doing a magazine interview on Friday in my home about my business (another praise God!!)

Our adoption profile was shown yesterday to a birth mom of a baby born yesterday (we were not selected tho).

Next weekend, we are going on a weekend getaway with 27 of our closest friends!!!

Oh, and did I mention my husband turns 40 tomorrow????????

I am stretched so thin that I am having writer's block.

I just got nuthin' for ya.

Nuthin' at all interesting to say.

But I did sell this cute chalkboard over the weekend at The Red Apron.

And this picture of my girl does make me smile.

Will post something more interesting soon.

I pinkie swear.

When Shauna is away.....this faux friend plays......

2012-03-13T04:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Shauna sure travels alot (insert NO jealousy at all!).

Even today....she is on vacation with her family in Destin. Ahhhhhhh Destin....I met you last year and loved you at hello.

But, back to my painting post.

Shauna is kind enough to give me access to her home while she is gone. Sometimes I work out. Sometimes I just go raid her fridge and nap. Don't tell.

Over the winter.....she asked me to paint this dresser for her.....and she was out of town. AGAIN!

So while she was gone and couldn't freak about the basecolor..... I painted it pumpkin.

And then crackled it.

And then stained it.

And then had my hubby and our friend Richard move it back into Shauna's house....

So it could be all pretty and done for her when she got home.

The lines of the piece really pop with the crackle.

And I think she loved it!!!

Don't you think she should have taken me to Destin with her?

And good faux friend would have......

Hey thanks for all of your kind comments and prayers about my last adoption post. It helps spur us on!

Adoption Update - stepping over the threshold of fear

2012-03-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you." ~ Isaiah 41:13

Because so many of you are so kind enough to ask, I want to update you on our adoption journey.

At times I wonder if I am sharing too much of our journey, but I am merely walking in fragile obedience here. And asking you for grace in doing so. It's scary baring your heart to your computer screen. But I'm praying our transparency is an encouragement to someone else in their own adoption journey.

It turns out that what I thought would be a quick overnight road trip to adopt....is,well, in reality... a very lonnnnnng journey.

In fact, I would say most of what I assumed this adoption story would look like is not at all in reality how it is.

The hubby and I are in the middle of praying thru some hard stuff. What does one do when the Lord's will doesn't seem obvious? When there are so many ways to build your family....and yet you aren't sure which way the Lord is asking you to do it thru?

We are still on a waiting list with 2 domestic adoption agencies in the US and will continue to wait on those. Our profile has been looked at several times, but has not been selected....and that is ok.

As we have been working thru the adoption process over the last year and a half....I have always said... "we will not do foster care unless the Lord changes my heart".

Perhaps God heard that and accepted that as a challenge. LOL.

We are still thinking traditional foster care is NOT for our family, but we are slowly....literally inch by inch....thinking of adopting out of the foster care system. We would be specific about adopting a healthy little girl under the age of 4. Of this I am certain.

And I am scared.

I don't need to tell you what I am scared of.

There are a jillion things to fear. Some realistic. Some just the jumbled fears that are coming out of a vain imagination.

I remind myself that I would have some of these same fears if we adopted an infant.

I would have some of these same fears if I were pregnant again.

Most of my fears are straight from the enemy himself and need cast down in the name of Jesus.

And so we are continuing to pray and ask that you would join us in doing so.

Adopting from the foster care system in our state essentially means redoing our home study. If ever you have adopted and have done a home study....you know what a daunting task this is. To think of redoing it physically makes my stomach hurt. If you don't think it's any big deal....I assure you....it's because you have done a home study.

It would also mean 13 weeks of training for Jason and I. One night a week for 3 hours each week with 3 busy kids already and a booked calendar as it is. And HEAVY topics. Sad topics. Too many statistics and too many sad stories. It sounds like too much for an already crazy, busy household and a passionate momma's heart.

I choose to believe however...... that if God brings us to it....He will give us grace to go thru it.

I am comforted lately by a daydream that I have had from the Lord. The Lord and I are holding hands and He is walking with me in the direction we are to go in our adoption journey.

And He knows I am scared.

And He knows my heart's desire is to do His will.

And He loves on me like a patient daddy would his daughter. Knowing she will come around, but needing time to process.

And He is soooooooo patient with me.

So, we take a step together....the Lord and I. In a direction I have never been and completely out of my comfort zone.

And I need time to adjust my thinking.

To regroup mentally.

To timidly ask the Lord for the 100th time if He is certain He has the right girl here?????

I just have to get my head around what He is asking us to do.

I search for peace in my soul. And once I am there emotionally, then the Lord and I take another step and I remind myself that I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me.

And so we continue, the Lord and I on this walk together.

I just LOVE that the Lord is never pushing me, never pulling me. Just gently by my side.....cheering me on. Reminding me over and over of His unfailing love for us. Reminding me of the scripture that if we ask for a fish, He will not give us a serpent because He is a GOOD GOD!

I am so grateful for my husband right now. For his wisdom and his peace and leadership in our home. I'm so grateful we are in agreement. And this is the direction he also feels we need to move in.

One of the adoption advocates who is supporting us has told me that most people will never consider adopting children out of the foster care system simply because of fear. He has encouraged us "to step over the threshold of fear".

And I love that visual.

So please keep our family in your prayers as we continue to storm the throne of grace....eager to learn God's will for our family. We are praying that if this the way to go, that the door would swing open wide. And if not, that before we spend 13 weeks in training..... the door would close tightly and another door would open.

I am so grateful for all of your emails and phone calls and blog comments. And I marvel that God has given me this blog as a place to work thru my emotions by writing and sharing our journey with the world. I am hoping I can encourage someone else who is also....doing it afraid.

"3 kids in our home; 4 kids in our heart"

Photo compliments of dear friend and talented photographer, Aimee Decker of Radiant Photography.

And the lucky winner is....

2012-03-04T19:18:00.002-08:00

True Random Number Generato - Result:14 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winner of the Jewel Kade giveaway is:

Commenter #14 is Carol from Joy in the Journey blog. Carol, we will contact you about your win!

Thank you again to Tracy Bruner for the generous giveaway from Jewel Kade.

Falling for CHEVRON???

2012-03-04T13:36:00.007-08:00

I have kind of bawked at the recent "chevron craze". It seemed so Charlie Brown-ish.

But after listening to my faithful clients.....I tried painting my first chevron design on a piece of furniture.

Let me first say, I consider myself a math LOVER. In 6th grade, when other girls were dancing and in the drama club.... I was on a math team with 3 boys! Ha! I am a math geek at heart.

But this chevron taping....it is NOT for the faint of heart. It confused even me!

You can find many instructions on Pinterest for taping chevron. But it was like reading Japanese to me. Ug! So, eventually the "creative side" of my brain took over the "math side" of my brain and I just "wung it". LOL!
Here it how I felt about chevron...... most of the pieces I have seen have been too bright for me. With too crisp of a color palette. And often on very sleek lined furniture pieces. The piece are gorgeous, but I just cannot picture them in my home.

So, I decided to do my chevron lightly distressed and on a warm cream base color.
It has the original hardware still on the piece.......

And it has these great little metal wheels-

It "goes" in my house and with my decor. And hopefully.....many of my client's homes as well.

Time will tell. My little chevron baby is for sale.

Linking to Under the Table and Dreaming , Northern Cottage , The Shabby Nest, Miss Mustard Seed, Home Stories A to Z , Tatertots and Jello and Just Something I Whipped Up.

$30 jewelry giveaway from Jewel Kade

2012-03-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to offer another giveaway on my blog! Cuz' who doesn't love giveaways????

This month, Tracie Bruner, a blog follower of mine and jewelry stylist for Jewel Kade is offering a $30 credit towards any piece of jewelry off her website at https://www.jewelkade.com/traciebruner.

Jewel Kade is a fresh take on timeless fashion! They have pieces that are vintage, contemporary, urban or romantic. Check these out:

For you serious runners....

For mommies:

For survivors:

For teachers (end of the year gift idea??):

For the organizer of jewelry:

For me, since this is my "word of the year".....

For anyone who loves jewelry!

They have bracelets and chains and earrings and more!

So, to win...... go over to http://www.jewelkade.com/traciebruner and do some browsing. Then come back here and leave a comment.

You can enter a 2nd time if you share this post/mention it on your Facebook page and let me know here in a comment.

Comment a 3rd time if you tweet about this giveaway!

You can enter a 4th time if you become a new blog follower of The Magic Brush and leave me a comment saying so (did I mention I LOVE new blog followers???)

I will be using random.org to select a winner. Leave your comments by Monday, March 5th at 8:00 p.m.

Good luck and thank you Tracie Bruner for your generous giveaway!

My teal chalkboard table- it's no Mexico donation!

2012-02-28T13:23:00.002-08:00

I faux finished this teal chalkboard table for the Oakhill Day School's Annual Auction which is this Saturday, March 3rd. More details can be found at www.oakhilldayschool.org .

So anyway, I am friends with the girl who gets the donations for the auctions. And since I like her, I like to give her a piece of furniture every year to auction off. I can't measure up to whomever donated a trip to Mexico this year....but I'm trying to do my part! LOL!

Last year, I donated this yellow endtable:

This year, I wanted to do something totally different....but equally as fun.

So I started with this a wood table.....

.....and painted the bottom a distressed teal with a glaze. Then I primed and painted the top in chalkboard paint.

And attached the chalk with a painted clothes pin glued on it.

My kids LOVVVVVVVVVED it. My little artist was occupied.....

And clearly , my little artist is verrrrrryyyyyyyy gifted.

My friend's children got to play with it.

My oldest got into it.

My boys were content for about 10 seconds until the "that's not fair" shouting began..... (***sigh***).

And I enjoyed it as well!!!!

(notice my stick person self portrait)

Go checkout the auction this Saturday night!

Please bid on FAUX! And feel free to bid on the trip to Mexico for me!!!!

Linking to:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

http://makingthworldcuter.com

http://www.craftskeepmesand.blogspot.com

http://www.cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com

Buffet: stencil? unstencil? stencil? unstencil?

2012-02-24T04:56:00.000-08:00

My friend Tracy got me the hook- up on this very dirty, but verrrrrrrrrry cool buffet.

Somehow I got to man the camera while my husband and one of my dearest friends carried it in the house for me. SCORRRRRRRRRRE! Thanks husband and friend!

I had been itchin' to do a butter yellow piece. I think I used Sherwin Williams "Blonde" on this piece. But it could have been "Restrained Gold" from the same card. (I can't even remember what I had for dinner last night, so.........anywho......)

I hadn't initially planned on stenciling the doors, but I just kept thinking it could be cute.

So I stenciled.....but then I had stenciler's regret. With the metal doors in the middle, it just felt like too much. And for me to say something "feels like too much"......well, then you know it's alot. I always err on the side of "more is more". But this was too much of a good thing even for me.

So then I painted over the stencil.

Then I wondered if it was boring and started to wish I hadn't.

Then I began to wonder if I was turning into a stenciling flake???????????

I sanded a little more off of the yellow to get more of the chippy, distressed look that I love.

And decided to leave well enough alone!

I took it to the Red Apron to sell last month and it sold right away the first morning.

And so, I guess the stenciling flakiness worked out ok after all.

A big thanks to whomever purchased the yellow UN-stenciled buffet!

Furniture ready to be custom painted! And to CHEVRON or not to CHEVRON???

2012-02-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

I have a few new pieces of furniture at my house that are for sale and could be painted in the finish / color of your choice. This french provincial dresser does have a mirror (altho I prefer it without)....

.....and a matching nightstand. It is my exact bedroom set from growing up. Awwwww nostalgia.....

Unless someone order it in another color....I will probably go BLACK!!!!!

Love the curved legs and drawers on this dresser. I have TONS of ideas swirling in my non stop, blonde brain for this piece. I am feeling funky......! This would be a great piece in any room when painted.

And this piece. This piece is my favorite right now. I am torn between my Facebook followers love of CHEVRON and my love of DAMASK. Seriously, if I cave to the pressure and go chevron and no one buys it....there could be tears.

Well not really, I'm not that sensitive.

What say you? Chevon or damask???????????

Email me for info on any piece.

The redemption of "John Deere Green"

2012-02-19T15:53:00.001-08:00

(Chalkboard....uglified)

Last year, I seriously "uglified" my beautiful cream colored chalkboard by painting it John Deere green. I soooooooooo thought it was gonna be cute. I knew the look I was going for.....I had it in my head. And I failed to execute on it! So I scrapped the color. Like a toddler pouting.

And....I changed the chalkboard to red (see this post) and I do love it.

But that green paint....it beckoned me back.

Ever the optimist, I decided to give it another shot on a chalkboard table.

I purchased this table from a friends' mother's estate sale and love the cute lines on it.

And here she is with the John Deere green on the bottom and a chalkboard top.

With distressing and a black glaze.....I LOVE the color!

It just tones down the intensity of the green and gives it some balance.

I knew it was a good color.

It had potential.

I knew not to give up on it.

It just needed assigned to a different project.

And that...my friends....will preach.

Linking to Miss Mustard Seeds Furniture Friday.

Pink stenciled dresser

2012-02-16T08:36:00.001-08:00

I am pretty tickled with the dresser I just finished for my Red Apron sale tomorrow and Saturday. If you are in the KC area...please come out and see all the goodies that the store has this month! Email me for details! Or follow "The Magic Brush" and "The Red Apron ~ Liberty" on Facebook. Lot's of pictures on both pages!

My husband picked the dresser up for me for the sweet, sweet price of only $11!

I started with a good coat of primer and a semi gloss white paint. Then painted the drawer fronts in a pink color that I mixed. A little bit of this; a little bit of that. It's like cooking....but way more fun!

I had this dainty stencil from Royal Design Studio called "Victorian Grillwork" in my studio, but had never used it.

And picked up the cute white knobs at "The Hobbily Lobbily" in the words of our 4 year old.

I am thinking it's way cuteness! Hoping to sell it this weekend!

Until next time, peace and chicken grease.

Linking to Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Friday.

Perfectly painted polka dots

2012-02-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

I have been asked how to paint perfect polka dots.

Well, if it's on walls....I order a polka dotted stencil.

Like this one which is self adhesive and makes life EASY!

This is the stencil I used on my daughter's bedroom walls and ceiling.

And in this client's "Very Tiffany" tween bathroom.

And in this clients' daughter's bath.

I have known people to trace paper plates and paint the circles in. Or try to cut their own circles out of mylar. No, no, no......! This stencil is NOT expensive. Spend the $ to have perfect polka dots and keep your sanity. Plus your time is worth something!

The stencil makes it so easy.

On a small project, like this lamp shade, I use what we call a "dobber".

I am not certain if this is the technical name or the made-up-Magic-Brush-name....but it works for me.

You can purchase "dobbers" in a variety of sizes at Hobby Lobby or Michael's type craft stores.

I prefer to use acrylic paints because they are thicker and therefore run less.

I also prefer to use pink paper plates to pour my paint into cuz' life is too short to use boring paint pans for everything!

Keep your dobber straight up and down and twist it in the paint.

Too much paint will = disaster, so saturate the dobber sponge....but don't glob it up.

I push the dobber on my surface at a 90 degree angle and twirl it in a circle, keeping the sponge flat.

You can usually get more than one "dot" on your project before needing to reload with paint. Vary your amount of pressure if you feel that you should have reloaded and have a "light" dot.

I think it took me less than about 3 minutes to polka dot this lamp shade.

Easy breezy, mac and cheesy....