Cathy's Corner

I have an absolutely wonderful client!  The kind of person, as an artist, you can only dream about.  We have been working together for just about a year now on tons of projects.  She LOVES my work and I am forever grateful for that. The best thing about Cathy is that she always, and I mean always, gives me the artistic license to do whatever I want.  I try to nail her down on a basic color scheme, but other than that she says,  "I completely trust you!  My husband says, 'when you find someone who knows what they're doing, just move out of their way and let them do their thing.' So, I'm getting out of your way."

 Totally LOVE her!

SO, I'm going to start by sharing some of the smaller pieces I did for her, then share the largest piece (or shall I say a set) I've ever done. First off was a pair of very old, very worn out school desks.

 Both desks were extremely worn out.  I had to sand them and prime them several times.  The marker/ink/sharpie on the top kept bleeding through.  But after 3 coats of primer, it seemed pretty much under control.  Although the chairs were greatly worn they did not require as much prep work.

She had another small desk set for me next.  This used to be her mothers (I believe) as a child and she wanted to redo it for her grandchildren.  It was going to be passed on to her son, and first grandson so I stuck to a more masculine feel. Although really the patterns and color choices could have worked in any nursery/playroom.

The next item was for her youngest daughter who was soon to be a teacher.  She had seen a picture on my Facebook page of another reading/teacher chair I had done for another client and wanted one for her daughter.  She had a rocker she found and brought it down to me.

Next was 3 small rocking horses that her father had made for her 3 children when they were little.  With such sentimental value she didn't want to get rid of them now that her children were grown but hated them sitting in the basement too.  So...you guessed it, she brought them to me for a much needed face lift!  I have only had the chance to finish one completely.  The other two were put on hold for the biggest project yet.

Her daughter-in-law loved giraffes and asked if I could incorporate one into the horse someplace, so I did just that, right on the seat.

Now, drum roll please, here is the largest project I have done to date.  A six piece (5 + a cutting block) kitchen/dinning room set.  Again it was her mothers set and she wanted to pass it down to her children, but knew in the state it was in no one would want it.  

First, it was the butcher block.

A choice to do a simple faux finish on the sides with plain robins egg blue, highlighting the checkered door and diamond patterned door was perfect.  I switched out the out dated handles and swapped them out for more rustic, heartier handles.  She didn't want the top painted, so I left it neutral.  This piece would set the stage for the next 5 pieces that followed.

Then came the pedestal.  She kept the top in Rochester with her and had a gentleman refinish the top in just a plain stain and varnish.  The base was a beast.  She didn't like the original pedestal and searched high and low for one that fit just perfectly with the other pieces.  I was thrilled because this one was much more exciting to paint in comparison.

Each piece as it was finished was transported back to Rochester. I had never seen them (only in my head) all together.  BUT yesterday-she sent me a picture of all the items together, set up and ready to welcome guests! I was so excited to see them!

So that's that for now! At least what I've finished. I've still got 2 rocking horses, 2 rockers, one rather large chair and a desk set, plus she's bringing more down this week.  Like I said in the beginning-LOVE THIS LADY!

Please, check out my other social media sites and follow along there if you'd prefer!  I'm on Facebook Instagram and Pinterest!  Loads of creative and colorful quotes, pictures and inspiration! So check it out!

Have an amazing week!

Mary

Mosaic Inspiration

Every once in awhile, I complete a piece that I fall madly in love with! Don’t get me wrong I adore all my pretty little pieces, as a matter of fact there hasn't been one I didn't like.  Yah, I may have changed a color or two, or perhaps done it a bit differently, but I've never said HOLY CRAP (or some other choice word) what was I thinking.  So, I have different categories of “like” and this piece is in the “Iabsolutelyfreakingloveyou” section. Now, you may be thinking, “Mary…that’s so conceded!” Please, know I don’t mean it to be, I mean, you don’t have to love it (secretly I’m hoping you do), but I get jazzed when colors and patterns come together to make a really cool piece of art.

Okay…so, here we go…

I had found this piece of furniture on Pinterest a long time ago and pinned it to my inspiration board called Painted Furniture for future use. I tried to find the original designer, to give them credit, but it just kept taking me to BING and thousands of pictures of painted furniture.  I couldn't even find this particular piece among the others anymore anyway.  All I had was this picture on my pin board.  Armed with that inspiration I set out on a mission to create something similar. See, the original designer of this piece had actually created their table from tiles. Although, I’ve tried mosaics I must admit, I don’t have the patience to create my own, then put them together, grout them and then paint! I mean really, I’d rather sit hunched over with a tiny paintbrush and tediously paint in squares! For real!

During a trip to my favorite unfinished wood shop I found this table on sale. Thinking I would be able to make my money back, I spent a little more then I usually do, and purchased it.  I liked it because it had the same lines, (so to speak) as my inspiration piece, yet it wasn't completely the same, which worked in making it my own.

I started by laying out the “tiles” and proceeded to color each section in with different colors.  Then I just started building on it from there.  It almost became like an obsession, to keep building on each piece, adding colors and shapes, finally creating small little abstract designs within one large cohesive piece.

I also admired how the top started taking on a quilt like effect.  Quilts are some of my biggest inspirational motivators for pattern. I’m infatuated with quilts! It’s one creative thing that I just can’t seem to do and have always wished I could.  I practically worship the talent of quilt makers.  Anyhow…that’s what the final product reminded me of, a really cool quilt.

Now, because the top and drawers (the front) were so manic, I didn't want the other parts to be too busy as well, so the sides, the back and bottom were pretty much big chunks of color, balancing the frenzied top.

The final piece looked like this.

  

Oh ya, and that money I thought I’d make back on this piece…ummm…ya, NOPE! I decided I loved it so much, that it was staying with me-a sort of belated Christmas present to myself!

Thanks for sticking with me this year. I for one am glad to be saying good-bye to 2012.  I’m really praying, hoping, wishing for an awesome 2013.  Cheers to all of you! See you next week! HOORAY!

Sharing with:

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Domestically Speaking