Wedding preparations

With less than 5 months to go until the wedding, I still have a huge list of stuff to do!  This weekend I made bunting to hang on the front porch.  I still need 4 20' sections for the tent and if I still have time and energy after that, I'll probably make more for the back porch and then I can cross that off the list!

At least the weather has improved and I am feeling energetic and eager to cross more things off the list!  Have a happy spring and please say a prayer for Molly and Matt this week as they drive from California to Virginia the 28th - April 1. 

Annie Sloan vs Homemade paint

I think I have mentioned before that I love the Annie Sloan paint.  I love how it sticks to whatever you are painting and that it is so easy to distress and that when finished with wax the finish is absolutely beautiful!   The only thing about Annie Sloan paint that I don't like is the cost.....at $39 a quart it is quite expensive so....  I wanted to see for myself whether or not it is worth the price.  


There are recipes all over the internet for a paint you can mix up yourself that is supposed to be just like the Annie Sloan paint so I looked up recipes....I also looked for reviews and basically all I could find were people who would start their posts with I have never used AS paint but I love the knock off I can make myself.  Having decided on a recipe I carefully measured 1 Tablespoon of unsanded grout into a cup of latex paint.  (I purchased a cup with markers on it specifically for the purpose of mixing my on AS paint and started mixing and stirring.)  As I assumed would happen, the paint thickened slightly with the addition of the unsanded grout.  I added a couple drops of water to thin it out more to the consistency of the AS paint making it easily go onto the bench I was painting.    After applying the paint I lightly sanded everything and put on another coat....and then another coat and continue to sand between coats like I would do with the AS paint.  Finally, I distessed the piece with more sanding and came up with some conclusions.

• The paint continues to thicken if you don't use it all.  I had to add more water to the paint between coats
• I did not get as smooth a finish as I do with the AS paint. 
• It didn't distress as well as the AS paint but I didn't mind the difference there
• I needed 3 coats of the valspar and unsanded grout mixture to cover what I am pretty sure AS would have done in 2 coats
• It did not adhere to the surface as well as the AS paint does.  I initially bought the AS paint because I wouln't have to prime!

That said, it is not AS paint, nor is it a close knock off.  Was it acceptable?yes, it was ok.   Is it inexpensive?  Yes the price was certainly right.  I won't say I won't use it again.... But I still love Annie Sloan paint and I think it is worth the extra money it costs.


ps.....I do not work for, nor have any affiliation with AS paint company, I'm just a big fan of her paint and wanted to share the results of my experiment!


The photo is the bench I painted this weekend by using Valspar's Queen Anne's Lace and one Tablespoon of unsanded grout per cup of paint.

Painting....

I had  a productive painting weekend!  The stuff at the shop is selling and I really need to replace some things so since I found a lovely and solid Victorian rocker I went to work painting this weekend.  Here is a peek at the "before" and "after" rocking chair.  Mr. Kay and I took it over to the shop tonight....  I hope it isn't there long, I've got another project ready to go for this weekend!

Wedding Mode

As most of you know I am planning a wedding for my daughter this summer.  The wedding will be held in our back yard.  I'm starting to think that may not be as good an idea as when Molly suggested it last spring.  At any rate....my plan is to get as much of the work done this winter so that I'm not stressing out come summer!  I'd like to be able to concentrate on the outdoors this summer and have a lot of the rest of the work finished by then.  


It may help that Molly and Matt will be moving from California to about 3 hours from us so if need be (and I'm sure it will come down to that) she can come home and help me!


I don't have plans to make this a wedding blog, but as the MOB I may have a lot to say in the next few months!  
   
This weekend I finished the "Pink Lemonade" sign that will go on the lemonade stand that will be the drink station during the cocktail hour and will be a feature in the garden on that day.   Mr. Kay built it in the basement and we won't be dragging it out till closer to the time we will need it, so stay tuned.  I'll be selling it at my booth at Street of Shops following the wedding and will be cute for anyone who has children who want to go into the lemonade business!  

Happy New Year

Well it's that time of year.....when I spend a day planning and organizing, etc.making my New Year's Resolutions.  This year instead of resolutions I'm calling them "Intentions".  I have good intentions for the new year.....  and here's what they are:

• learn photoshop
• eat more veggies, drink more water
• plan Molly's wedding....  and have a lovely, fun wedding

Merry Christmas

May all your Christmas's be White!!!

Looking forward to celebrating....church tonight and a breakfast at church in the morning followed by a Christmas worship service.  I will have a few hours to get things together for our family Christmas.  I've been cooking all day today and I won't finish till much later tonight.    

Missing Molly who isn't able to get home for the holidays.

Hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Weekend in California

My weekend in California was really fun.  I am mostly a stay-at-home kind of gal and enjoy the little pleasures in life but last weekend I boarded a plane and flew out to visit Molly in California.  We enjoyed a non-stop shopping weekend.   By the end of the day I fell into bed and slept soundly every night till morning and that doesn’t usually happen.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to the Vintage MarketPlace.  It was such fun for me to look at all the booths and see how they decorate and what they are selling and to compare it to what is selling here in rural Central Pennsylvania.  I gotta say, I’m much more in love with the whites and pastels and burlap in So. California than the “country” colors and stuff that sells here in Central Pennsylvania.   I am gradually making some converts.  The white shabby furniture is really selling at my booth.

I love TJ Maxx so we shopped there on Friday, as well as Marshalls, Home Goods and the Coach store.  We don’t have any of the fun stores here! (thank goodness).  

Saturday we shopped in LA and I enjoyed “the Grove” and “Farmer’s Market” and then on to Santa Monica so I could see the Pacific Ocean and more shopping.  Sunday we went to Temecula, wine country and visited a few winery’s followed by more shopping. 

A big thanks to Molly who had the whole weekend planned and to Matt for not complaining about any of the shopping, etc.  My suitcase was only 7 lbs. overweight so I stuff seven pounds of stuff into a paper bag and put my purse on top and called it my “carry-on” so I was able to get everything home!   If I ever recover financially from this trip I may do it again!

Fun in Southern California

Last weekend I went to visit Molly and Matt in Southern California.  Molly had a lot of things planned for us to do but first on my list was the Vintage Marketplace December Show  It did not disappoint, the artists were amazing.  I loved so much of what I saw.  We just don't have good "stuff" like that in Pennsylvania.  I got some good ideas for my booth for next fall.   I purchased some great pieces while I was there and am enjoying them in my home.  Here are some photos that we took.

Look at the windows on this booth....can you imagine what it took to put it together?  Wow!  I love it.

Another of my favorite pieces that I left there for someone else.  This was on a mirror....  how did they do that?   Did I mention that the vendors had the best stuff?!!!                 I may have to plan another trip out there next December.

I've been really busy at the space I rent at Street of Shops.  It seems that I can not keep small furniture in stock.  I'm so glad that people are buying my white furniture, but it keeps me busy.  This weekend Mr. Kay and I took a Bakers Rack over there.  I painted it "Duck Egg Blue", I almost hope the color doesn't appeal to anyone and it stays for awhile.   It makes a great display piece.  

This weekend I painted another dresser and another display piece to replace the one that sold this week.  I painted this display piece "Paris Gray" and did a white dry brush over top of it.  I won't care if that sells, I still have another one of those in the basement all I have to do it paint it. 

I am working on some picture frames to take over there but it doesn't look like they will get there before Black Friday shopping.  

It's time to shift gears and plan for the Thanksgiving meal I'll be preparing and serving later this week.  

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.  If you plan to shop on Friday remember the antique and junk dealers in the small shops that reuse, recycle and reinvent !!!!

A Perfect Weekend

I just had a perfect weekend.... Molly came home Friday morning so I finished up my work at the office and came home and hung out with her.  We talked about plans for her summer wedding and then cooked and got ready for company for dinner.  Very soon my blog will turn into a wedding blog as Molly's wedding will be here before I know it and there is lots to do....

Saturday we were up early and off to Williamsport to TJ Max, Olive Garden for lunch and then Macy's.  We ended up at the Susquehanna Valley Mall.    I bought a new suitcase for my trip in 18 days and some clothes for Molly among a few other things.  She bought a pair of boots that she loves. 

Saturday evening she went out to visit friends and this morning we went out for breakfast before she had to leave to fly back.  The weekend went by much to fast and I forgot to take photos!!! 

Now I need to get into the Thanksgiving mode and start planning the meal, etc.