2016 Business Resolutions

I can't say I was too sad to see 2015 go. I had started out in January like most people, excited about the prospects of a clean slate.  I wrote resolutions. Promised myself things would finally change. Well, change they certainly did, but not in the way I had intended them to. God had a different plan. Personally, my world was turned upside down. My life was significantly altered and all those "resolutions" I had penned in a small notebook at the beginning of the year, seemed far away, and almost childish.

But I'm glad to say, with Gods relentless help, I came through the other side and am now excited for the prospects of a year planned by God. That's the difference-it's how I approach it.

I know that God is in control and I'm going wherever he leads, BUT i also know it's important for me to take an active approach to my life as well, getting up and getting moving.  So, that's the direction I am headed in, onward & upward.  Just moving forward one step at a time and allowing God to direct my path.

That said, one of my steps forward is every Sunday i join my husband, (or soon to be husband on February 22, we are getting remarried after being divorced 14 years, lol, go figure, those are those "God has another plan" things I was talking about) in an "intentional work session". We go to Starbucks, grab a coffee (i get Hot chocolate) and we set up shop.  We work strictly on our businesses.  Coordinating schedules for the week, writing up estimates, writing this blog even.  Talk about dreams, goals and visions for what the plans are for the upcoming week, month, year and how we are moving forward business wise.  It started as a fluke but has now grown into a really rich time.  A time of focus and forward thinking.

So it is with that intension that I want to share the items I have done during the week.  If I have some creative ideas I want to share them.  As I keep moving forward with this, so does my business.  It puts things into perspective but also lets me see how far I have progressed.

Here we go.....

These are a couple items I finished this week:

I also painted and submitted two paintings that have since been approved and moved to our PaintNite library for purchase.  Magnificent Magnolia & Midnight Memories are the newest addition to my growing work in acrylics on canvas.

Come paint with me some night if you are in the Syracuse area! Go to Paintnite.com to find an event, use coupon code MARYM20 for $20 off and be prepared to relax and have fun!

I look forward to spending some time with you every week. Sharing some ideas I have percolating, projects I'd love feedback on and taking my business to the next level.  I am excited!

Please follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or here!

happy creating!

Mary

Miniature Table for 2

 

Hi creative friends!  

It's been a little bit since I last posted but please know I have been VERY busy! Our Etsy Store has been booming!  So, that means I haven't had a lot of time for custom  orders.  I miss painting furniture so much! I truly do.  Don't get me wrong painting the smaller items in our store is fun, but furniture is therapeutic and gets my creative mind moving.  I'm working on a bunch of other pieces right now, so hopefully I'll have more pieces to post very soon.

We first did two tables for Mike (are wonderful friend from the paint store) a couple of years ago.  They wanted these two missed matched pieces to come together with a fresh and funky look for their daughter who was getting her own place.

Once finished they looked like this.  The pictures aren't that great, we remembered to take them just before they picked them up, but you sort of get the idea.

Now they were ready for their 3rd piece!  Love these people!

This was the inspiration piece. The patterns didn't need to be identical but they really liked the color palette/combination. 

You can't see it in the picture below but the leg on this piece had been repaired at one time and had now come apart again.  We tried to fix it with Gorilla glue, but it didn't work.  We had to remove the leg, scrape the old glue off, nail it back into place and then secured it/ sealed it with a wood epoxy. It was quite a project, but after it "set up" it was like new.  When that was finished, we sanded the entire piece and primed it with Bullseye 1-2-3 primer from Zinsser, twice.

 The final piece looked like this.

The matching table is on deck next.  It's a bigger project then this smaller one.  Here's a sneak peek!

I'd love for you to come join me on my other pages:  Pinterest FaceBook Twitter and Instagram Let me know you're there and I'll follow back.  I get so inspired by all of you!

Thanks for following along here!  

My How You've Aged

Most of the time, when you guys/gals click on over here you expect to be hit in the face with bold colors, funky patterns and an eclectic mix of ideas, but every once in awhile I'm commissioned to do a piece like the one above and I want to share it with you.

Do you remember, a couple posts back I did a rather large "Earthy Armoire"? 

Well, this same customer also asked me if I could coordinate her outdated TV stand with her large jewelry box in her bedroom. I laughed wildly, "Hahahahaha!" And flipped back my hair and said, "Of course I can!" Yah, I know...that would've been pretty creepy and she probably would have kicked me out, so I just replied, "sure thing."

This piece would be going on the side of their bed, as her husband's night stand.  She had tried to find pieces to match at a variety of stores but couldn't find one she liked, and that's when she thought about the TV stand that had just been collecting dust downstairs.

As with the armoire this was a piece of French Provincial furniture that she had inherited from her mom.  She loved the sentimental value but wasn't fond of the "style" so she opted to salvage the piece and have it redone.

I color matched the piece upstairs and settled on Sweet Basil from Benjamin Moore .  It was the same color that I had used on the armoire. 

I know, looking at it now it seems pretty, well...GREEN!  But, you have to remember we are going to put a dark stain over the finished project, so don't panic!

I painted the center pieces a dark tan then darkened them around the perimeter with Bittersweet Chocolate to look as if they had been aged.

I then repainted the flower on the corner.  Again don't freak out about the bright colors, the stain will darken everything-I promise.

Using a dark walnut stain from Minwax I started applying the color with a rag all over the entire piece.

Now, you should wear latex gloves when you're staining, because I love the look of  "mechanic" hands when I'm done, said no one EVER!  It's a mess to get off your fingers and out from under your nails!  It takes literally days!  But I had forgotten the gloves that day, so I had to suck it up and take one for the team! What I wont do for creativity. Sigh...

After putting stain on the top and

and sides, I was pretty impressed with how it was looking.  

When staining over paint try hard not to go in circles.  Go with the grain of the wood.  

Once it's stained get a little bit on your finger (with the rag securely pulled over it)  and gently streak it down making it look like it's wood that took the stain finish differently.   

Then I worked it into the flower-see how much better that looks now.

After, I was finished staining the whole piece, Patti came out and said, "Oh God, I really don't think I like the beige in the center?  I think I want it just green? What do you think?"  

First, I fell back and hit my head on the floor several times.  I smiled and said, "Well...you did want it to match your jewelry box?  But I must admit I'm not feeling the tan either."  "Okay, paint it green."  So, that's just what I did.  I went back into the tan areas and repainted them with the Sweet Basil.  Then aged them again with the brown and went back in with the stain to darken even further.  

The picture above kind of gives you an idea of what each step looks like.

I then took a small paint brush and went deep into the crevices to create an even darker look, keeping in mind that I needed to feather out the "over stain" as it pooled over the top.  The great thing about stain over paint is, you have some time to work with it.  It doesn't dry right away, so if something drips there's time to blend it in.

When we finished the piece we had to let it dry a couple days before applying the Minwax Lacquer to seal it.  Like I said before, stain, when applied over paint, takes longer to dry. Let's say that one more time shall we...

We then dusted off any lint/dust that had settled on the piece and used the "brush on" lacquer for the top, just because it gives you a thicker coat and that's the spot that gets the most wear and tare. But we then used the spray on the rest of the piece.

So, there you have it. What do you think?  Would you have kept the tan centers or do you like the way the green looks?

Please, leave a comment.  I love to know what you're thinking!  Or you if you have a question, and require a response, please leave your e-mail, I can't always connect through blogger.  OR you can inbox me on my FaceBook Page if you'd like.  I will get back to you ASAP.  

I have no problem sharing what I know, so ask away :)  It may not always be the way everyone else is doing it , but its what works for me and I'm happy to share it with you.

Come find us on Instagram too!  We are actually painting in Clearwater, FL this week-how sweet is that!  Yes, this New Yorker is enjoying the warmth of the Florida coast.  

So, catch up with us on Instagram and see how we 're spending our fun (cough, cough) business time in Florida ;D

TOOTLES &