2011 in Review: Our Top 5

As 2011 comes to a close, I thought I’d jump on the “year in review” band wagon and give you a look at my top 5, “most viewed” entries for the year.

Number 5:  Garage Sale Loving

I took this fun little piece and transformed it into a funky entryway table. It sold this summer at The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival.  It was the first time I had attempted a landscape motif on a piece and I must admit this turned out to be one of my favorites!

Number 4:  The Benefits of Social Networking

My friend Krissy will be glad to know that her daughter’s dresser made the cut!  This piece is actually one of the highest “repined” items on my Pinterest page-it shows up all over-and for that I am honored! I’m hoping I will have the opportunity to get to some larger pieces again this year!

Number 3:  A Funky Floral Mandela Table

I've had a lot of people affectionately call this my “Toy Story” table, and you know what, I like it! If my babies were still little, this would proudly be displayed in their room, but alas they are teenagers, dark & Gothic, teenagers, gone are the days of Toy Story and bright colors.  Even so, I personally L-O-V-E this table and its primary color pallet, cow print meets floral...it just ROCKS!

Number 2:  Where Do You Find Inspiration?

Great piece, but boy, was my hand tired from painting in all those zebra prints on the back! Perhaps that’s what prompted my carpal tunnel surgery this November? Hmmm…

I really liked the blue on blue and the red on red (I did a linen weave faux on the top, which didn’t come out all that great in the picture, but looked really cool in person) then did a gold metallic Polk-a- dot on top-SWEET! Then the feet...Shut the front door! They were fencing post toppers-love it! Sold this piece to the same person who bought number 5! Ya baby!

Number 6: Moroccan Stencils

Funny how the number one, most viewed post on my blog for 2011 isn't even furniture! BUT STAIRS!  

As many of you know The Decorative Paintbrush is a 2^nd business for me. Although this year, and hopefully in 2012, it will become more of a full-time career for me. My partner and I own another business called 2 Women and a Paintbrush We do all kinds of painting in & out of people’s homes-as a matter of fact, if you've ever read my bio, you’d know it’s really how TheDPB was born.  

Anyway, we were commissioned to paint & stencil a customer’s stairs, and although we have a blog for 2Women and a Paintbrush because I loved how these looked I wanted to share them here as well! I’m so glad I did because it turned out to be the most highly viewed post on my blog since we started in 2009! Too funny, hugh?

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful, safe & happy New Year! Thanks for being a part of my world this year! Your comments are always so uplifting and inspiring! Can’t wait to get painting again-lots of great stuff on tap for 2012! Remember to come follow along on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter! 

Be safe! Big hugs & much love! PEACE!

The Benefits of Social Networking

When Face Book first came out I wasn’t a believer. I thought I could never get into that, but now it’s like an addiction for me! How about you? I love my business Face Book page and have met so many great people through it. I’ve even added a Twitter account too! Hahaha! I know I sound like a tool! But it's amazing how it can help your business grow!

(My personal page is a whole other story. My kids think I’m crazy and yes they hate the fact that they have friended me and I write, “I love you!” all over their walls!)

Anyway, the reason why I’m going on about Face Book and Twitter, is this, the social media thing…it works! I’ve actually gotten a lot of business from it, my case and point, this beautiful redo right here! Krissy was a friend from high school, we reconnected via FB (how cool am I with the abbreviated lingo), she saw my stuff and “BAM!” (Okay, maybe not that intensely) commissioned me to redo her grandmother’s dressing table for her daughter!

At first we chatted via FB, and then she sent pics via email. She sat down with her daughter scanned my blog and Etsy store for designs, which led to a list of things they might like to see on their dresser. Her daughter really liked this bookcase I had painted for another client, so that was our insperation piece.

I then scketched out some designs (tweeted about them! Hahaha! Joking!), sent the pictures back to her via e-mail and they picked the one they liked best.

Now, some of you are thinking, Mary, this isn’t a very personal way to do business, and I would agree, but in today’s world when people are oober busy, carving out “time” to meet with someone face to face, and coordinating schedules is crazy! Krissy is a working mom, I’m a working mom, enough said people! Sometimes I take care of business at 2 am! This is when social media, e-mail etc…is a total must! If I could have had her fax the actual dresser to me and save the gas, I would have!

The desk was in really good shape despite its age. I did have to do some minor repairs to it. I used (as always) Gorilla glue in the cracks and held it shut with clothespins until it dried.

I sanded it, primed it and turned it on its side to get ready for painting. Just a side note: Always turn your pieces upside down, otherwise you’re always going to be finding “missed spots”, plus my motto is, “If it looks good from underneath, it will look even better from the top.”

I even prime and paint the drawers. First, I think it gives every piece a finished detailed look. Second, most of the pieces I refinish are used, and who wants to put their junk in someone else’s junk, right!

 I added cute knobs, all from Hobby Lobby. I didn’t want them to match because I felt it added to the funkiness of the piece. I also added wooden letter appliqués also from Hobby Lobby in the form of her initials on the two top drawers, plus the wings & heart in the center just for some added whimsy.

And just before I finish I sign my pieces now. I wasn’t signing things before, but a good friend (thanks Lucy, AKA Lucy Designs) told me “You have to sign your work, it’s your art!” so now I do.

Krissy also purchased this great mirror from me to go with the set. I just put some black and white checks around the outside and the trio was complete.

I did lacquer it with 4-5 coats of lacquer but you know teenage girls! Mom’s going to purchase either a piece of glass/Plexiglas to cover the top area to preserve it better, plus she can add pictures or keepsakes underneath to personalize it even more.

Hopefully, when Krissy has it all set up in her room she’ll send me a picture and we’ll see what it looks like in action!

So the moral of this story! Social Networking pays off!


And for those of you who live locally stop out and see us next weekend at The Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festivale! All the details are here!


Have a Fantastic Weekend!


Happy Painting!






Mary!






I will be sharing with my friends on my link up page. You can find them all here.