Leaving Well Enough Alone

Remember that expression? There are just some things you can't improve on and shouldn't. And other things, well, why not. Here's what I mean. See this sweet doll high chair I picked up this week for $4? Now, how can one improve on this? After all.....

it looks to me like somebody's grandpa or daddy made this for someone special....

and it got tons of lovin'

by some little girl -- or boy! Just leave well enough alone, I can hear my own Grandma say!

But then there are tons of these around....

so why not make it a bit shabby chic modern for a downtown loft? Urban chic?

You just have to figure out when to leave the paint in the can! After all, some things are just

one of a kind! Have a fantastic and safe holiday weekend! Thanks for reading my blog!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Now Available at Iowa’s TLC Vintage Collection

This news release/flyer is going out today and this week across Iowa!

August 29, 2011 – Des Moines, IA – Urbandale-based TLC Vintage Collection LLC is proud to announce it is the Iowa stockist (distributor) and retailer of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and other decorating products. This line of paint, first introduced in 2010 in other parts of the United States, is considered the preferred paint by consumers and refinishers who enjoy the Shabby Chic, French provincial and rustic Tuscan style of furniture and other faux finish paint treatments.

Annie Sloan, a designer and artist in Oxford, England, developed chalk paint over the past two decades to give consumers and interior designers a versatile product. Chalk paint has become a buzz word on blog spots across the U.S., written by people involved in repurposing, restoration and up cycling of antiques and vintage materials.

Ease of use is a catch-phrase with this paint line. It is not necessary to strip or sand before application. Chalk paint can be used on a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to, wood, plastic, lacquered surfaces, floors, walls, cupboards, metal, furniture and even outdoor furniture. Clean up is effortless and quick with warm running water. Fast drying, one or more coats, depending on the desired effect can be done in a short period of time. Annie Sloan recommends one to two coats of soft wax after complete drying. There is little odor – think of the smell of chalk. The paint and wax are of low impact on the environment.

For additional information or to purchase Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, please visit our website at: www.tlcvintagecollection.com or contact Janet Piller at the email and phone numbers above. We are in the process of recruiting stores or decorators in the state of Iowa who would like to be mini-stockists and retail Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at their locations.

Easy Peasy -- Using Chalk Paint!

The first shipment of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint inventory arrived in Iowa right on schedule Saturday. Old Grey -- that's my recently acquired 2009 Ford Ranger -- and I hauled it to storage. Unfortunately Grey does not do any of the unloading. I couldn't wait to dip into these fab colors. But wait there is such a thing in business as checking inventory. Done.

Already we have two groups interested in carrying Annie Sloan products as mini-stockists or retailers in other parts of the state! This is moving fast and what great folks I'm meeting. I'm adding many to my blog list so check them out.

Meet first project, little side table with cut outs. Remember we are on a learning curve here. (I'm also working on a small frame at same time). But I want you to get an idea of the work time, which is amazing.

First thing to know. Chalk paint is thick, dries quickly. So don't dip from can. Pour some into another container so the bulk of it does not get left open to the air. (I use old plastic throw away tubs). Use a decent but not expensive brush. Have a variety of sizes. Use a size bigger than you think you would. Mine was too small! I'll explain when I realized this later.

In 50 minutes, this is what I had. This pretty color is Paris Grey. Is it a shabby chic color, or what? We ran off to a graduation party at this point. A couple hours later, I came back and spent 45 minutes creating this, by painting a layer of Graphite paint on in small areas and rubbing it off with a cotton sheet rag.

I personally am dubbing this the Ash Treatment. It looks smokey and cloudy, like you had rubbed fireplaces ashes on white! I am not an expert yet, and there are some spots I am not content with. The legs and sides look great, but the bigger surfaces are suffering from using a small brush. The overlapping of the paint strokes is not to my taste. Today I will sand it a bit to see if that helps. Otherwise, I'm pulling out a larger brush today and "re-doing" the horizontal surfaces with another rubbed off layer of Graphite paint. Then I will follow up with a layer of soft light colored wax, which we also carry.

That's the nice thing about this paint. If you don't get the outcome you imagined, just throw on another coat or two. Did I say fast drying? You don't have to wait two days. Did I mention no prep time? No stripping, no sanding. So if you pay more for this paint per quart than other types, remember: You are saving on time, you are saving on mess, you are saving money on stripper and sandpaper and turpentine. This paint smells like chalk -- my project is in the kitchen!

Total time to date: 1 3/4 hours (not including the 2 hours drying time). Clean up? Nooooo problem. This paint not only washed out of the brush quickly with just plain water, but it came off the plastic containers too!

Love it, love it, love it. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!