Side Tracking...and prayer requests

First of all, I need to request some prayers for two women who I know that were just diagnosed with breast cancer -- I found out this news yesterday. I also want to say that my heart and prayers go out to the people of Japan. The devastation there is surreal and downright scary. Please keep Japan and the two women in your prayers.
Now, on to a happier subject...still a sidetrack from my regular posts about decorating, art, crafts, etc. I’m going to attempt to write about music. Music is big in my family. My dad used to be in a band – way before I was born and both of my older boys are into music. My oldest writes a lot of his music - both lyrics and melody-- and if I over look the profanity in some of the lyrics, it’s really good.

So, that leads me to Paul McDonald. You know that really cool, quirky, raspy singer on American Idol? His voice is so …I don’t know…I’m just in love with his voice. After watching the show Wednesday night, I looked him up online and found out that he’s been playing in a band by the name of The Grand Magnolias. I’m loving the tunes and just want to listen to him all day. Anyway, check him out in this video. The song’s called American Dreams. It not only sounds good, it has a great message about believing in your dreams, going for them, and being accountable.

Okay. I’ll write more about what my audience expects next time. I just had to promote this guy…he’s worth watching.

That’s A Switch: A Tutorial of Old World Plaster

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I kind of have a thing about light switch plates covers. Almost every switch plate cover in my house is decorated…painted or decoupaged. Well, since I’ve learned this Old World plaster technique, I just had to try it on a light switch plate. It was a little tougher using this technique on such a small surface, but I love how it turned out! Here’s a tutorial for those of you who want to try it!

Materials:

•       Wood light switch plate

•       Base paint color of your choice (I used Americana Decocraft’s Slate Gray because it’s my absolute favorite gray.)

•       Joint compound (I prefer and recommend using white, but all I had was gray)

•       Glazing medium

•       Mixing container

•       Sponge brush

•       2 Rags or towels

•       Old credit card or gift card

•       Other paint colors to mix with joint compound and glazing medium – I used black and white (I like to live on the edge).

•       Embellishments or stamps

•       Gorilla Super Glue

So, to get this exact (more or less) switch plate cover, here’s what you do (actually, you may want to practice this technique on a block of scrap wood before you attempt):

1.    Paint base color (slate gray) and let it dry.

2.    In the meantime, mix white paint and gray joint compound to lighten it up a bit.

3.    Slop it on the dry light switch plate and then kind of swish it around with the gift card, wipe excess off of card and keep scraping and swishing until you get the desired effect. Let it dry, thoroughly.

4.    Mix 3 parts glazing medium with one part black paint (you only need a little bit) and apply it in small sections to the dry switch plate. 

5. After you paint one small section, wipe it off in with your towel or rag. Some of your base color will show through and the black with gather in the textured part. Move on to the next small section and do the same thing.

6.    Repeat this until you like the look. I did this about four times.

7. I also elected to add another “layer” by using some French script and architectural stamps in spots…you can stamp anything. You can stop at this point or add some embellishments.

8. I decided to add embellishments, so i searched in my stash of vintage jewelry to find the perfect pieces. I decided that I need to liven up  the dark background just a bit so I chose some old scatter pins and this really fun and rather large vintage rhinestone earring piece. After arranging them just so, i used my trusty Gorilla super glue to secure them to the plate.

And, there you have it...a unique, crazy light switch cover...details count, right? 

Little Blocks of Inspiration

I enjoy creating signs for my Etsy shop, but I always seem to end up with these scraps of wood. Not wanting anything to go to waste, I use the scraps to create these little desktop inspirations.

If you've been following me, you know that I've been experimenting with the Venetian plasterer technique. So, I decided to experiment some more on these little blocks, trying different colors and glazing techniques.

So, these are the results.

The brownish-rust one below was a gift to Tracy of Tracy's Trinkets &Treasures for designing my beautiful button (see sidebar).

That's all today. Stay tuned for a paint tutorial later this week! 

Rusty, Chippy Goodness

So, my husband comes home from work the other day with a big smile on his face. "I have a surprise for you," he says. Walking outside, I glimpse these beautiful rusty, chippy antique ceiling tiles! Six of them! My neighbor comes over because she sees me jumping up and down with glee and says, " so, what color are you going to paint them?"
Paint them? Paint them?! I really just love the way they look right now and have no plans to paint them. I'm thinking that once i redo the family room (it's time) that these would look perfect covering the huge expanse of wall that comes with vaulted ceiling. However, never say never, because they really are chipping all over the place.
On another note, our school's silent auction went fantastic last night. I don't know the final numbers, but some of the art projects by the kids were well over $150 when I last checked.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

According to Summer … Embrace Your Eclectic Style

This is my first installment of advice from HGTV’s Summer Baltzer, whom I had the chance to interview last weekend for this blog and What’s Up Annapolis magazine. I will be sharing some design trends and advice from Summer on this blog and on What’s Up Annapolis’s website. Click here for my online What's Up article about using the color gray, Gray is the New Tan.

According to Summer, eclectic interiors are all the rage. (When she said this I almost hugged her, but that would have been kind of weird so, I just took notes and nodded).

“Eclectic interiors are here to stay,” she says. “We are getting further away from the ‘matchy, matchy’ look where your end table and coffee table and everything has to match.”

Why? Eclectic interiors exude personality.

“Having an eclectic interior makes your house so much more interesting to look at," says Baltzer. "It allows you to buy from a lot of different places, bring in collections from your travels and makes your house unique.” 

I couldn’t agree more. I have always possessed an eclectic style. It may not work for everyone, but it works for my family and me, so that’s what counts. What I like best is when people walk into my home and are intrigued about certain items. Or when my friends are out and see something and say, “that is so you!” I feel that my home is me – there is no one style – it’s country, cottage, shabby chic, rustic, primitive, vintage with a little coastal flair. One thing it isn’t, I guess, is contemporary.

When I purchase furniture or accessories for my home, I buy them because I like them. Not because they match or will “go with” my décor. I buy it and I fit it in and I truly believe that’s what decorating is all about. After all, you and your family are living there day after day so surround yourself with the things you love.  I want everything in my house to have a story!

So, that’s Summer’s two cents (and my five cents) on eclectic design. Don’t be afraid to embrace your style or create your own style (another cent). Next week, I'll share Summer's advice and some of my ressearch about color trends.


Now linking to:

Art Auction Reveal

In mid February I posted about our elementary school’s annual fundraiser - a bull roast, which includes a silent auction.

I worked with the art teacher to have the students create square paper collages so each child's artwork would be highlighted on a 3" x 3" square of paper. For example, first grade used circles as their shape while fifth grade created stars. Each kid had one 3" x 3" square to interpret their shape. I just finished mounting and framing them and wanted to give you all a sneak peek. I love kid’s art!

While there are two framed pieces per grade, I am just showing one from each grade. They do look more amazing in person (because it’s tough photographing art without a glare from the windows). Anyway, enjoy these previews of future artists:

Kindergarten: rectangles

1^st grade: circles

2^nd grade: squares

3^rd grade: organic shapes (no the chandelier isn't actually part of the art...sorry)

4^th grade: hearts

5^th grade: stars

If you’re local, come on by the Columbian Center in Severna Park, MD this Saturday  evening for some great fun!

What's Black and White All Over?

Answer: My photos. I'm taking up a black & white photo challenge over at Tracy's Trinkets & Treasures today. Why? Because I adore black and white photography and I am currently taking digital camera lessons. I don't have photoshop just yet, so I'm just using iphoto for photo editing. So...here are some of my favorite photos in black and white:
A wall of bamboo with just a tinge of color:

scenes from a barn sale...using color fade...notice how the chairs are a tad pink.

an ice storm

two photos from my son's collection:

and my favorite, my kids...although, I'm not sure I actually took this picture, it may have been my friend Michele...anyway, here it is

Linking to: