Bead Show Beginner

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Craft, DIY, Home Projects, iPhoneography, Jewelry

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Arts, Bead, bead show, Beadwork, Craft, Jewellery, Jewelry, jewelry making, jewelry show, trade show

I have a friend who makes beautiful jewelry and accessories with beads. Throughout the year, she travels to bead shows in our region. For several hours, she shops each show for beading materials.

As much as I love jewelry, you’d think I’d be relatively sharp about beading. I am not, however. In fact, I know very little about the art and business of beading. So, it was a delight when my friend invited me to join her recently during one of her bead show adventures. It was a smaller show, she said, a good show for a beginner beader. Looking back on it, it is easy to understand how a large show could overwhelm someone unfamiliar with all the choices!

Now, during the past few years, my stint as jewelry editor for Suite 101 compelled me to learn a little about beads. In fact, I’ve enjoyed reading Lois Sherr Dubin’s marvelous, iconic book, The History of Beads (Abrams, New York), as well as other books and online articles on the subject. And one of the things I do know about beads is that there are extraordinarily talented artists who handcraft beads and that these collectible pieces may be found at bead shows. So, I was on the lookout… of course, I found something special, but that is for another post!

When I first walked into the bead show, one thing was obvious: a bead may be made from just about anything. Historically, the first beads were made from seeds. And there were seed beads at this show. But also, there were beads crafted from minerals, metals, paper, acrylic, glass, clay, polymer, rubber, plastic, and more. There were decoupaged beads, sliced-stone beads, and glass-blown beads. Overall, my favorites were the lamp glass beads.

In addition to the beads and raw materials themselves, there were jewelry findings, chains, colored wires, cording and other materials with which to craft personal adornments.

Now, as my friend has been beading for years, she knows her materials and she knows what her future jewelry components should cost. “Don’t buy those,” she warned while nodding to a table near the entry, “they are way overpriced. I’m sure someone else has similar wares for less.” We moved on.

And she is always mindful of the return on investment for potential sale pieces. Accordingly, my friend first canvassed the entire show before making very savvy purchases, both in terms of eye-appeal and price.

After visiting a few more bead and jewelry shows, this summer, she’ll spend several weeks making beautiful jewelry… most to sell during a local, autumn craft show to benefit charity. Some more baubles will be for gifts, and a few trinkets will be keepers for herself… the jewelry pieces I’m sure to gawk over when I see them finished!

Working-with and collecting beads is something anyone of any age – from toddler to octogenarian – can do, as a hobby, business or both. Whether making beads or stringing beads, it doesn’t have to cost more than a few dollars. And the creative possibilities are endless. Moreover, the potential to create and collect very personal objects is quite seductive.

Now that I am a bit more educated, soon I hope to foray into another, bigger bead show. I can see this as quite an addictive activity…

Rocker Redo with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Craft, Decorative Painting, DIY, Favorite Products, Home Projects, iPhoneography, Lifestyle

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Annie Sloan, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Color Card, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Colors, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Palette, Annie Sloan Cream, Annie Sloan Old White, Annie Sloan Versailles, ASCP, chalk paint, Color Card, craft paint, decorative paint, DIY, diy furniture paint, DIY furniture painting, girl's paint, Hand Painted Color Card, hand painted furniture, historic paint, home decorating, iPhone 4, low VOC paint, Paint, paint palette, painted furniture, painting vintage furniture, refinishing furniture, repainted furniture, rocking chair redo, vintage furniture

After completing several DIY painted furniture projects, I’m kind of liking my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. As Ms. Sloan promised during her visit to the east coast this spring, her low VOC paint does adhere to anything, and requires no primer or special prep. I like that. Also, it is quick drying and presents a “matte velvety” finish. Perfect for decorative painting projects, especially worn or old furniture that could use a facelift.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint palette offered in the United States for 2012. I’ve fiddled with color settings a bit on my computer in an attempt to accurately replicate the color card in my hand on your computer screen. © 2012 EddinsImages

So far, my eight ASCP colors – out of 29 offered by Sloan today – are each quite conservative and light in tone. They are: Old White; Cream; Versailles; French Linen; Country Grey; Old Violet; Duck Egg and Louis Blue.

I need some more colors in my palette… more intense colors with punch! These are code words, off course, for: buy more paint! The only problem is, when I try to decide which two or three colors will come home next… immediately, my list grows to no less than eight different hues. Hummm. At close to $40 per quart, I’ll be giving some serious thought to my choices.

Meanwhile, here are some photos of a rocking chair I repainted recently. My grandmother purchased the chair about 40 years ago for my brother’s bedroom in the family home on Cape Cod. The chair is quite comfortable, especially for a rocker. However, I am tired of the plain-jane stained wood, and my house today is littered with stained wood pieces. Something had to be transformed…

For the rocker, I used Old White, then layered and textured a bit with Cream and Versailles. Also, I sanded in places throughout the process to let the original wood show through. So far, I’ve not finished this piece with my final layer of wax, however, I plan to top it with Annie Sloan Soft Wax in Clear.

All in all, the project took several hours… a solid half to three-quarters of a day, considering drying time between coats. I was going for a sort of worn, shabby chic, textured look that was light (but not white) and would work in a variety of decorating styles.

I am quite pleased with the chair’s new versatility in our country home. In fact, it goes perfectly well with the little blue stool I painted with Annie Sloan paint earlier in the year…

Dog Owner’s Best Purchase… Ever

12 Saturday May 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in DIY, Favorite Products, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Lifestyle, Pets

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Andis AGC, clipper blades, Cool Care Plus, Dog, Dog grooming, dog grooming at home, dog grooming supplies, dog grooming tips, Groom, home pet care, Pet, pet care, Pet clipper, pet groomig supplies, pet supplies, Pets, professional clippers, Supplies

We have dogs. Lots of dogs. So many, in fact, that I will refrain from specifying the exact number. What I can say is that all, except one, were rescued… um, except for the puppies. But, that’s another story altogether. And, of course, we’ve got lots of other animals as well…

Lets just say my husband, son and I have morphed into a sort of private animal rescue league (yes, my husband is a saint).

Anyway, as it turns out, most of our dogs are breeds, or breed crosses, that require regular grooming. And that presents two problems: 1) Half of our dogs get car sick to and from the grooming salon, even the seasoned travelers; and, 2) Paying someone to wash and clip more than half a dozen dogs every few months can become both burdensome and pricey.

Finally, when a vet determined that we’d have to clip one of our chow chows regularly (to stave-off a recurring medical issue) we decided to bite the bullet. We purchased our own electric clippers. For less than $150 dollars – about the cost of just two professional groomings – we bought ourselves an Andis AGC clipper kit with detachable blades, plastic blade attachments, clipper oil and a carrying case. The packaging on the AGC clipper proclaimed it to be, “SUPER Duty. Great for the toughest grooming jobs. Thin to thick coat dogs, including heavily matted.”

That’s us!

Also, we purchased additional blades. In total, we have an Andis 10 UltraEdge 1.5mm blade, an Andis 7FC CeramicEdge 3.2mm blade, and an Oster 7F blade. Our final purchase was a spray can of Andis Cool Care Plus coolant/disinfectant/lubricant/cleaner/rust preventative. We’ve found the spray essential to use throughout each grooming to keep the working blades cool and lubricated and the dogs comfortable.

To be fair, I’m not altogether unfamiliar with clippers; owning more than two-dozen horses gets one accustomed to such things. However, the intricacies of grooming a dog is an entirely different animal than the broad swipes one makes clipping a big horse body.

Certainly, there are grooming techniques, “dos and don’ts,” if you will, that professional dog groomers know and practice. My husband and I don’t have the slightest bit of training in such matters. However, we are extremely careful, especially when it comes to delicate pup face and neck areas. We’d rather be safe and less perfect than sorry. Same goes for anything we do with grooming scissors. The health, safety and comfort of our beloved pets is far more important than making them look even close to “show perfect.” I won’t begin to discuss the horror stories I’ve heard about grooming “mistakes,” even those made by licensed professionals.

Regardless of our dog-grooming ignorance, we’ve managed for the last year and a half or so to take all dog clipping matters into our own hands.

And, the results have been surprisingly good.

Feet and faces still need a bit of practice, both from the dogs and their neophyte groomers, but, each time we do it, we all get better and better at the process. We don’t use a grooming table or any sort of restraint; in fact, our little maltipoo, Mr. Snuggy (who has a lamb-like thick, curly coat) has gotten so he just rolls over to “help” as we clip his underside. And, he always feels better after his grooming; for days and days, he is more playful, bright and affectionate after his haircut.

Without a doubt, the Andis AGC clipper has been the very best pet-related purchase we’ve ever made.

And, I do believe the ceramic blade remains cooler than steel blades. The Andis clipper has paid for itself over and over again. It has plowed – without ever overheating, stopping, or injuring a dog – though dirty, matted, thick, undercoated chow chow hair; filthy, mud-clobbed, stick-tangled, poop-matted border collie fur; dreadlocked, twisted, matted and chewed-from-play maltipoo hair; and long, knotted maltipoo-beagle coats. Often, there is so much matted hair, the process reminds me of the spring sheep shearings I watched as a little girl

Even so, our dogs don’t seem to mind the process nearly as much as they did the scary trip to the dog groomer. And, when it is all done, each dog always seems to appreciate his or her “new” coat. Especially Mr. Snuggy, who knows he’s a handsome fellow.

Best of all, we’ve saved ourselves a pretty penny and the hassle of unpleasant car interior clean-ups during rides home from the professional grooming salon!

Texturizing with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

30 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Craft, Decorative Painting, DIY, Home Projects, iPhoneography

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Annie Sloan, Annie Sloan Chalk, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan Old Violet, Annie Sloan Paint, Annie Sloan workshop, chalk paint, decorative paint, decorative painting, DIY, furniture painting, furniture wax, hand painted furniture, hand painting, old furniture, Old White, Paint, refinished furniture, refinishing furniture, shabby chic, step stool, The Empty Nest

Once upon a time, I stood many hours a day in front of an easel as I applied oil paints to canvas after canvas. Invariably, at the end of each day, I found the serendipitous riot of of colored-paint dribbles, accidents and wipes on my palette much more satisfying that the carefully selected strokes and precise swaths of paint I’d meticulously applied to my canvases. That’s one reason I abandoned my fine art painting (but that’s another story, for another day)…

During a recent Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop here in Virginia (please read my April 7 post), I was most delighted to hear British decorating paint guru Annie Sloan talk about methods for texturizing her paints. And, I was even more turned-on when she said, “There are no rules.”

I spend so much time these days striving to get things exactly right, carefully writing, designing, working and reworking things over and over, not wanting to make a mistake, that I’ve forgotten how to just have fun, and not worry about consequences. Annie Sloan gave me permission to work quickly, to be messy, and best of all, to make mistakes.

I love it.

I’ve got a basement chock-full of old, unloved furniture, and I decided to experiment with a few pieces. After the Annie Sloan workshop, I stopped off at Janet Metzger’s The Empty Nest at The Fox Den Antiques Mall in Warrenton, Virginia, to purchase a few cans of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The “experimental” paint colors that I chose were mostly lighter tones in blue, green and creamy neutral hues. Also, I purchased a can of Annie Sloan clear wax and a can of dark wax, and I picked-up some uber cheap paint brushes at Lowes (the short-handled kind of brushes that come several to a package… I mean really cheap!).

My first paint victim was an inexpensive, little white stool that I’d purchased at Target several years ago for my husband’s grandchildren to use. The stool’s surface was very slick, and and after years of use, it looked quite shabby (not in a good way). It was going to be interesting to see how successful I could be trying to transform a slick, monochromed, modernesque surface into something I hoped would appear multi-colored and textured, as well as old and worn (in a good way).

With my cheapo paintbrush, I quickly covered the stool with rough strokes of Annie Sloan’s Old Violet, leaving some of the stool’s original white finish still showing. This first step took me less than a minute from start to finish. FWIW, the Old Violet appeared to me to be lighter and brighter IRL than you might think when just viewing a small paint chip (especially when I left some of the base white showing through). However, I was going to address the “bright” a little later…

When I was finished with the first layer of color, the paint easily rinsed out of the cheapo brush in water (as well as my hands!). After the Old Violet dried, just a few minutes later, using the same brush, I applied random strokes – some quite thick and “blobby” – of a light blue called Louis Blue. Then, before the Louis Blue dried, again with the same brush (not so carefully rinsed this time), I added a light yellowish green called Versailles. And again, I made my strokes random, in all sorts of different directions using various amounts of pressure. I tried to apply heavy applications of paint in order to create ridges and valleys of texture over the originally smooth surface. Also, I pushed the wet Loius Blue and Versailles colors together in a few random places on the stool. Moreover, I used a rag to wipe-up and smear paint in areas.

There were no rules. I was making a mess on-purpose.

Then, I reapplied some more of the Old Violet here and there. Next, with the same cheapo brush I spattered some of the Versailles over the surface (this would have been more successful with a decent brush). Finally, I added some Old White spatters. The entire process took less than an hour.

After applying several layers of paint, then sanding, and a adding coat of clear wax, a dark wax is applied to tone the color and accentuate the “hills and valleys” of the painted surface. © 2012 EddinsImages

When the paint was dry enough to touch, I applied a coat of clear wax all over the stool and gave it a good rub. Next, I hand-sanded some areas, including some of the edges and corners of the stool to let under-layers of color show through, replicating “years” of wear and tear. Then, I applied a coat of dark wax, heavier in some places than others. After a few minutes, I wiped-off the dark wax, using varied amounts of pressure around the stool. This toned all the colors and left dark low-lights in the nooks and crannies of the textured paint.

About two days later, when the wax was fully dried, I buffed the stool by hand to give it a more polished finish… and viola!

No longer ugly and abandoned in the kids’ room, my reinvented, repainted stool has proven to be quite versatile. The mix of toned-down colors blend in just about anywhere around the house and I don’t worry about getting it dirty. The rumpled “old” surface wears wonderfully well and the more it is used, the better it looks. Plus, it reminds me of my younger days, filled with oil paints and wonderful mishmashed palettes. Yes… I definitely need more colors.

So, I plan to purchase some more Annie Sloan Chalk Paint; I’m thinking, a red, some darks and there are a couple of brights I’d like to play with as well. Of course, knowing me, eventually I’ll end-up with just about all of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors (there are about 30 offered in her palette today).

Meanwhile, I’ve got my eye on a really boring wooden rocking chair sitting here in the family room… <wink>

Report from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshop

07 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Craft, Decorative Painting, DIY, Home Projects, iPhoneography

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Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan fabric, Annie Sloan workshop, decorative painting, diy furniture paint, French style furniture, furniture painting techniques, painted furniture, Shabby chic furniture, Swedish style furniture, vintage furniture

Last week I attended an Annie Sloan Hands-on Workshop in Leesburg, Virginia. I’m relatively new to Annie Sloan, as well as the paint she says she’s proud to have invented. However, while wallowing in self-pity because “I never do anything creative anymore,” and reading online about the British paint and decorating legend’s American tour, I signed-up on a whim. Maybe a workshop would re-inspire my creative juices…? After all, waaaay-back-when, there was a time when I was actually trained in fine arts. And, I do have an obscene amount of old furniture pieces lanquishing in the basement – surely, each could benefit from a painted facelift. Besides, lately, there’s been quite a buzz about Annie Sloan’s paint on decorating blogs and websites across the country. Time to find out what the buzz is about, and give myself and my old furniture a much needed kick-in-the-pants.

A fine artist, Brit Annie Sloan is one of the world’s most known and respected decorative painters. A darling of the Shabby Chic movement in interior design, as well as French, Swedish and – on the other side of the design field – Urban and Boho Chic styles, Sloan has written 23 books, has been featured on numerous television shows, and presents her painting techniques and design ideas throughout Europe and the United States. And, of course, she owns her own paint company. Also, she sells a line of fabrics, and painting accessories.

People came to the workshop from all up and down the southern East Coast; I met one woman who had come from as far as South Carolina. Also, several Annie Sloan “stockists,” the people who carry her products here in the United States, brought painted furniture pieces and accessories to display in little vignettes around the lobby. The furniture and accessories providing workshop attendees concrete examples of what could be accomplished with the paints. Several stockists included their “recipes” detailing how they applied and treated the paints and waxes to achieve their unique effects.

Highboy chest in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

What I most appreciated about Annie Sloan was her insistence that when working on a painting project, there’s really no “right” or “wrong,” and that one can be as creative and different as one wants to be. “These are really easy techniques. After you’ve got that, it’s the color that matters – even if you’ve got the technique, if the color is not so good, then… not so good [overall].” Of course, Annie Sloan assures audiences that not only are her Annie Sloan Chalk Paint brand colors good, but, they go a long way as well.

Addressing [what had to be] many more than 100 people, Sloan was full of good humor and stories. She called her paint “highly pigmented,” which means, just about one coat is all that is needed for a single color application. “I usually say when I paint a piece of furniture, one-and-a-half coats,” joked Sloan. Meaning, one coat, plus a little more to get the spots you missed or the places that need a little more coverage.

A lighthearted moment between Annie Sloan, left, and well-known designer/blogger “Miss Mustard Seed” as they met for the first time. And, yes, my photo is distractingly blurry… my apologies! (I didn’t want to impose on their time to ask for another picture). © 2012 EddinsImages

Also, I love that Annie Sloan claims to have developed the paint because she wanted to “get it done in a day.” No prep. No sanding. And no waiting days for it to dry. Just paint it on and let it dry an hour or two. How can you not love that! And, it means Sloan was looking to create a paint that would “stick to anything,” not just wood.

Certainly, by all accounts, she got her wish. Workshop attendees reported that the paint sticks to just about everything one can imagine, including: clay pots; brick; metal; laminate; even shoes and… a driveway. The most problematic surface, said Sloan, is “really, really shiny, cheap, plastic. It’s not the best.”

I can live with that.

Regardless, “I’m always inclined to see what happens,” she told the crowd. “Having this paint is a bit like having a child – you think you know all about it, then, it does something!” Sloan’s excitement and playfulness regarding her products and processes was infectious.

Sloan added that she painted the outside of her shop in Great Britain with her Chalk Paint and, after few years, it held up just fine. She did caution, however, that when working with the paint for exterior finishes, “If you want that sort of weathered look, then this is the perfect paint for it. If you want ‘perfect’ then, this is not for you.” In other words, for many, it is the patina that the paint acquires over time that makes it most desirable.

Sloan said her palette, originally just 12 colors, now 26 different hues, is based on 18th century colors like Prussian Blue – think of the colors Marie Antoinette brought to life – and early 20th century colors, like pure white and brights – Paris, Impressionists, Cubists. Also, Sloan said that often she mixes her out-of-the-can colors to create her own custom colors, depending on what she needs. Colors in her palette are made to coordinate with one another side-by-side, layered, as well as work together in the paint pot.

All in all, the day ended too soon for me. I was decidedly disappointed when Annie Sloan’s morning presentation on color (before lunch and our hands-on workshops) was cut short because, apparently, we spent too much tome talking about waxes – Aghhh!

Kudos to Miss Mustard Seed; word is she is greatly responsible for making the event happen (happily, I managed to meet and thank her). Also, thanks to the stockists and others who coordinated, taught workshops, and brought their wares to display. And, of course, my sincerest gratitude goes to Annie Sloan, whom I was delighted to meet, for her shared experience, wisdom, stories, good humor and fabulous, easy-to-use PAINT.

And… yes… I am inspired!

More next time…

Reinventing Claire

~ with Passion & Purpose

Category Archives: Home Projects

Bead Show Beginner

Rocker Redo with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Dog Owner’s Best Purchase… Ever

Texturizing with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Report from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshop