Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Decoupage and Craqueleur on Glass!

Ever take photos with a great intent to do something with them.....then month's later something reminds you that you never got it done! That's what happened this morning when some ladies on the Annie Sloan Q & A Facebook page started discussing use of Annie Sloan's two-part Craqueleur! And here are some photos I did as I used Annie's products, including Decoupage medium on some glass sofa table inserts.

These were brown colored glass inserts and I really didn't like them. So I decided to decoupage old music to them.



First, I used the insert itself as the pattern to cut the sheet music to the right size with an exacto knife.


Next, apply Annie Sloan's Decoupage medium to the top side of the glass, then carefully place the music on top and gently work it flat with your fingers getting any bubbles out. I love this fluffy light product of Annie's as it is so much finer to work with than some of the decoupage mediums that are found in most craft stores.

Note: With Decoupage and Craqueleur, you may want to designate specific brushes to these uses. They will clean up with soap and water, but I just use inexpensive chip brushes. They never feel quite the same after using these mediums, so you do not want to use one of your better brushes.


After you have applied the paper you need to wait until the decoupage medium is totally dried before going onto the next step. We do not need to apply Decoupage over the music because we will be applying Annie Sloan's Craqueleur to these pieces instead.

When you are sure that your piece is thoroughly dry (maybe a couple hours, depending on how thick you applied the Decoupage medium), you can proceed.


Step 1 of the Craqueleur is runny and white. But it will dry clear and is like a varnish when dry. It creates a hard clear base for Step 2.




As soon as Step 1 is dry to the touch, bring on Step 2. Step 2 is a stickier medium and slightly yellow. You need to put enough on so that it will develop cracks. The reason crackle mediums sometimes fail is that too little is used. However, a thick coverage will result in wider, larger cracks. On this piece I wanted finer lines to develop -- so it is a matter of experience and practice to apply enough without applying too much. Don't you love the inexactness of that explanation!




After applying Step 2, you can let it air dry and cracks will develop. But I am the impatient sort, so I use a hair dryer to speed things along! The trick is to hold the dryer about 4 inches away from your piece so you don't blister the Step 2 medium.


I never tire of seeing the cracks develop as I move the dryer around! I hope you can see the fine cracks below.


To set off the cracks better, just brush on some Dark Soft Wax, then wipe off the excess as usual with a lintless flat cloth. You can also use Annie Sloan's Clear Soft Wax tinted with some Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. Another option is to mix a little metallic Gilding Wax with mineral spirits for a wash that you paint on and wipe off.




These four glass inserts with their new look were then put back into place on the sofa table. The sofa table was painted with Graphite then Old Ochre. After Clear Soft Wax, the piece was distressed and finished off with Dark Soft Wax. It is a popular piece in our shop and we display knobs and handles on it!



Thursday, December 18, 2014

Stenciling with Dark Soft Wax by Annie Sloan

Here at TLC Vintage Collection, Central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, we are always looking for new interesting methods of using Annie's products. This week we found a parlor table that we had painted with Country Grey was a little too simple in its look. What could we do to make the top more interesting?



There is some wonderful carvey parts at the top of the legs, which I planned to accent with Dark Soft Wax, But I wanted something to carry that color to the top and change it up a bit! I love lace and doilies and immediately turned to my stencil supply, looking for a large Lace stencil by Royal Design Studio.

The entire table had already been waxed using Annie Sloan's Clear Soft Wax, wiping back the excess as we went along. However, we did not buff it,  because now it was time for a bit of magic!


We lightly taped down some edges using Frog Tape and pulled out a little shoe polish brush we like for small jobs. It was just stiff enough to work well. Unlike stenciling with paint or stencil cremes, we did not stipple on the wax. We did however use very little wax on the brush -- almost like we would when dry brushing with paint -- a little goes a long way!


So instead of the usual pouncing with a brush, we gently drew the brush lightly over the stencil. This just lightly changed the color of the exposed surface area. We also went slightly outside of the stencil so the "snowflake" like edges would show up on our table. Your stencil can be cleaned with mineral spirits and a soft cloth to remove the wax, then soap and water and rinse.



Don't you love gently lifting off a stencil to peek at your work? I do.....


Our final step is to let this rest and cure for several days before buffing or putting it out into the showroom. Our wax finish will not be fully cured for 20-30 days during the winter months when we have the heat working in the shop. A simple way to step up your game when dealing with one color!


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Chalk Paint® Wash Tutorial

At TLC Vintage Collection, central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, we like to keep adding and changing the finished pieces throughout the store. This gives inspiration to our shoppers who are looking for a new idea. Well, some of the ideas are not that new really, but are simple to recreate once you have an idea of how to do them. So today I want to share how we get this wash effect.



Garage and estate sales are an addiction. I had to replace my trucks brakes after only 30,000 miles because of my failure to roll on by when I see a driveway filled with furniture! Among my favorite pieces of furniture to pick up are Martha Washington sewing cabinets or tables. I've found three of them over the past three years and they usually sell like hotcakes without doing anything to them.

 

This one stuck around a little longer, perhaps because of the scratched surfaces, so I got around to painting it with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Louis Blue. This was quick to do. Just washed down the piece with Dawn dish soap, rinsed and let dry, followed up with two coats of paint.

This is a sweet powdery baby boy blue shade but it left the piece flat and one dimensional. I remembered a Coco wash I did several years ago on a bedroom set that was very popular and did not remain with us long.


Washes are easy on small areas, and a bit more difficult to get right on large expanses. This is because it is easiest when you do continuous brush strokes and wipe offs -- more difficult the bigger the piece is. I used Coco because I learned long ago that Coco loves Louis Blue, as well as Antoinette and other pastels, giving them dimension.



Chalk Paint® is so rich and creamy and thick that I like to mix it with a little water for my wash. Then cover a workable area because you do not want the Coco to start drying before you drag it off.
The area of a drawer is really easy to work with, so cover the entire front.


I like to use wadded up cheese cloth to drag off the paint. It is porous and can absorb a lot of the paint. But you could also use any lintless cloth, like a piece of old soft tee shirt. Drag the fabric from one side to the other in one motion.


Painting and dragging should go with the grain of the wood. You can pull off all of the paint, so it just stains your underlying color or leave more of a streaked look, which I have done here.


In the end you have a mellow look that helps age the piece. After the paint dries you can distress or wait until after the first coat of wax to distress. We distressed edges, the carved part of the legs and the bends in the wood where it was turned and cut originally.


The wash with Coco is an alternative to using Dark Soft Wax to give your piece an aged look. When people see a cabinet door sample with this technique they often confuse it for a Dark Soft Wax finish. I believe this gives a softer look to the finished product once it is waxed with Clear Soft Wax.


Someone will discover this sweet piece in TLC Vintage Collection. It is perfect next to their couch as a side table to hide knitting projects in because the top is hinged with long deep compartments on each side. The drawers are perfect to hide pens, notecards, remotes or other things you want to tuck away.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Happy Holidays Newsletter from TLC Vintage

December 2014
Volume 19



Season’s Greetings & Thank You

As we come into the final month of the year, it is time to remember and cherish the journey we have been on at TLC Vintage, central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint®  decorative paint by Annie Sloan. Our recollections wouldn’t be complete without thanking all of our customers -- whether you have been with us all along or just discovered us today! Your enthusiasm and support of the Annie Sloan line and my curious and interesting choice of one-of-a-kind decor and furniture find has been amazing.

We are giving back some of this to those who are struggling, through the Children’s Cancer Connection. Your support at our #AnnieSloanLate@TLCVintageCollection open house on November 21 will result in a check for $1,000 going to the Connection which helps children who have cancer and their siblings to find support and help during their ordeal through camps and activities.

We wish you a very jolly holiday season and all the best for 2015!

Sincerely, Janet & Dan Piller




Making a list and checking it twice! Holiday Gift Ideas!

Got a friend who is wild about Annie Sloan products or items we carry? Have items you hope family or friends will give to you this holiday season? Or even an upcoming birthday? Here are some ideas!

TLC Wish List:  Come to the store and fill out a card of items you hope to find in your stocking or under the tree for the holidays. We will help your friends locate those items at the store and gift wrap them. Or come to the store and see if a friend or family member has completed a form. If not, we can look through their past purchases and help you come up with something new that they will like or need!



TLC Gift Certificates: Our gift certificates are good for 12 months from the date of purchase. Ask for one for Christmas or a birthday or give one to a friend in any amount you choose. These may also be used for workshops as well as merchandise.

Secret Santa and Girlfriend Gifts: Our Shannon Martin line includes small holiday gift bags with amusing photos and sayings and are the perfect size to gift some Sweet Doe Soap, Body Butter, Shannon Martin pillboxes, magnets or sticky notes! We also have darling locally made vintage inspired necklaces.

For the Gourmet: Try our unfiltered Spanish olive oil, Arbekia -- housed in its own beautiful gold koozie… Just add a bow!

Annie Sloan Fans: Gift something your friends haven’t tried! Decoupage medium, Craqueleur, the new Burgundy that is a huge hit! And don’t forget Annie’s newest book: Room Recipes for Color and Style!




Tip of the Month
Baby, It’s Cold Outside…..Protect your paint from extreme temperatures. Chalk Paint®  is best stored at 55-80 degrees, so don’t leave your cans in the garage! If you receive a shipment from us and it does sit out all day on the step -- don’t worry. Let it warm up to room temperature, stir thoroughly and get painting! Best not let it freeze, but it can freeze and defrost three times without hurting the quality. Also, it is best to wax and paint under these same temperature conditions!



Workshop Schedule

Chalk Paint® 101 Plus!
Six paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 per person in advance.
Dec 6: 9 am to Noon      Jan 10: Noon to 3 pm
Feb 7: Noon to 3 pm      Mar 7: Noon to 3 pm
Apr 11: Noon to 3 pm     

_________________________________________________
Chalk Paint® 201 Amazing Finishes!
More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan!  Crackle, frottage, rococo & more! $85 per person in advance.  
Jan 31: Noon to 3 pm   Mar 21: Noon to 3 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
Chalk Paint® Kitchen Cabinets & Built-ins!
How to renew your dated cabinets at a fraction of the cost without replacement! $85 per person in advance.
Feb 28: Noon to 3 pm       Apr 18: Noon to 3 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
Wood Icing(TM)
Ice wood like icing a cake. Texture paste to add a permanent dimension to any surface! Lace, wood, reptile, stencil & more. $85 per person in advance.
Nov 22: Noon to 3 pm   Feb 21: Noon to 3 pm
__________________________________________________________
Artisan Enhancements Special Effects!
Crackle, Pearl Plaster, Transfer Gel, Gilding Foil! Fun beyond description! $85 per person in advance.
Dec 20: Noon to 3 pm    Mar 14: Noon to 3 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
Peeling Paint, Crust & Crud!
Perfect for the junker who wants to blend a newer piece or add a more rustic finish to an item to blend in. Peeling off paint, layers of crust and crud. $85 per person in advance.
Jan 17: Noon to 3 pm
____________________________________________________________________
Introduction to Milk Paint
A variety of applications for the use of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. Wax distress, layering, staining and more!
Dec 13: 9 am to noon     Mar 28: Noon to 3 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
Chalk Paint Fabric & Upholstery
First time offering. How to update your look at home using Chalk Paint on fabric and upholstery -- leather, damask and more!
Jan 24: Noon to 3 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
Studio Time: $25 per hour by appointment. Rate adjusted per person if more than one. You purchase materials to use from TLC Vintage. Tutoring or project oversight. We also do custom  painting.
____________________________________________________________________
Girls Night Out! Pinot & Paint Therapy!
Put together a group of friends and spend 3 hours in the studio painting finishes you choose. Cost dependent on materials and number attending. Your bring the wine and we provide the cheese, crackers and paint! Dates/fees negotiable.
_____________________________________________________
Class Size & Cancellation Policy: We maintain the right to refund your money or arrange for a different date if we do not have the 3-4 people necessary  to make a class viable. If you are ill or weather prevents travel, you may reschedule to another date within six months of the date you originally scheduled. If your plans change, we need a two-week notice before the class date if you want to be rescheduled. Under two weeks, there is no refund but if your spot is filled we will allow you to reschedule. Otherwise, your fee is forfeited.
__________________________________________________________________

TLC Vintage Collection
7518 Hickman Road
Windsor Heights (Des Moines) IA 50324
Telephone: 515-276-1577 (shop)
Email:  tlcvintage@tlcvintagecollection.com     
     
Watch our Workshop Tab for Schedule Changes!   Website: www.tlcvintagecollection.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

November TLC Vintage Collection Newsletter

November 2014
Volume 18
 
 
#AnnieSloanLate@TLCVintageCollection
TLC Vintage is Having a Party
You are Invited!
 
That’s right! Mark your calendar right now to stop at TLC Vintage Collection Friday, November 21 from 10 am to 9 pm! This is our participation in Annie Sloan’s world-wide project by stockists. We have chosen the
Children’s Cancer Connection
 
 
of Des Moines as the charity we will work with, giving them 50 percent of the day’s revenues. Plus 100 percent of your purchases of the Children’s designed holiday cards will go to the connection. And that is not all! There is a

Silent Auction & Grand Prize Drawing for
$385 Value Basket of
Annie Sloan Products!!
 
 
Your name will be entered into the drawing if you either 1) donate a piece of décor or furniture painted with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan for the silent auction or 2) write a check on the 21st made out to the Children’s Cancer Connection for $30 or more!

Refreshments – Door Prizes – Demos
Bring a Friend!

What’s New At TLC Vintage
 
Junk Jubilee Jingles – November 14, 15 & 16 – We will be there! Will you? Friday 10 am to 8 pm Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. 4-H Building in the southwest corner of the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Cavallini Papers
– 27 ½ X 19 ½ in high quality papers for wrapping, decoupage or framed wall art! A variety of subject matter from breeds of cows to maps to wine to airline travel and bicycles! Just $4.95 each!

Knobs and Handles – Blue Rose, Crystal, Mini clock faces and more! We have new repros and old knobs for sale with a range of prices!

Stencils – Three new shipments including holiday stencils, more scripts, subway and more!

TIP OF THE MONTH

Add a little shimmer to your holiday projects with a couple of products we offer. French gilding waxes that are metallic in golds, coppers and silvers can be used as you final detail after you have finished waxing your piece. Apply with a finger, brush or by making a glaze by adding a few drops of mineral spirits to a small quantity of gilding wax. Or add a pearlized look by adding paint to Artisan Enhancements Pearl Plaster. Just that little extra pop that makes your work sparkle!

WORKSHOPS

Wear paint appropriate clothing for all classes and we provide the rest: folder of notes, sample boards, refreshments. In-store discounts day of class.

Chalk Paint® 101 Plus! Six paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 per person in advance.
Dec 6:  9 am to Noon   
Jan 10:  Noon to 3 pm 
Feb 7:  Noon to 3 pm   
Mar 7:  Noon to 3 pm 
Apr 11: Noon to 3 pm  
  
Chalk Paint® 201 Amazing Finishes! More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan!  Crack- le, frottage, rococo & more! $85 per person in advance. 
Jan 31:  Noon to 3 pm  
Mar 21:  Noon to 3 pm

Chalk Paint® Kitchen Cabinets & Built-ins! How to renew your dated cabinets at a fraction of the cost without replacement! $85 per person in advance.
Feb 28:  Noon to 3 pm      
Apr 18:  Noon to 3 pm

Wood Icing(TM) Ice wood like icing a cake. Texture paste to add a permanent dimension to any surface! Lace, wood, reptile, stencil & more. $85 per person in advance.
Nov 22: Noon to 3 pm   
Feb 21: Noon to 3 pm

Artisan Enhancements Special Effects! Crackle, Pearl Plaster, Transfer Gel, Gilding Foil! Fun beyond description! $85 per person in advance.
Dec 20:  Noon to 3 pm     
Mar 14:  Noon to 3 pm

Peeling Paint, Crust & Crud! Perfect for the junker who wants to blend a newer piece or add a more rustic finish to an item to blend in. Peeling off paint, layers of crust and crud. $85 per person in advance.   
Jan 17:  Noon to 3 pm

Introduction to Milk Paint: A variety of applications for the use of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. Wax distress, layering, staining and more!
Dec 13: 9 am to noon     
Mar 28:  Noon to 3 pm

Chalk Paint Fabric & Upholstery: First time offering. How to update your look at home using Chalk Paint on fabric and upholstery -- leather, damask and more! 
Jan 24:  Noon to 3 pm

Studio Time: $25 per hour by appointment. Rate adjusted per person if more than one. You purchase materials to use from TLC Vintage. Tutoring or project oversight. We also do custom  painting.

Girls Night Out! Pinot & Paint Therapy! Put together a group of friends and spend 3 hours in the studio painting finishes you choose. Cost dependent on materials used but generally minimum of $400 for your group up to 6-8 people. You bring the wine, we provide the cheese and paint! Dates/fees negotiable.

Class Size & Cancellation Policy: We maintain the right to refund your money or arrange for a different date if we do not have the 3-4 people necessary to make a class viable. If you are ill or weather prevents travel, you may reschedule to another date within six months of the date you originally scheduled. If your plans change, we need a two-week notice before the class date if you want to be rescheduled. Under two weeks, there is no refund but if your spot is filled we will allow you to reschedule. Otherwise, your fee is forfeited.
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

"Your Home Must Be Amazing!" (err...no, I'm sorry. It Isn't!)

 
     Okay.....so I admit that I love my little shop, TLC Vintage Collection -- central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint(R) decorative paint by Annie Sloan. Somehow during the four minute morning commute from my home to my shop, all my inner decorating and creative inhibitions dissipate. I become a free spirit, able to splash a bit of the very Best Paint in the World onto anything and have it turn out lovely and charming.



But like Cinderella at midnight, as I make the return trip eight hours later from shop to home, the magic disappears. I become unable to make a decision about my décor or color themes. As a result, my home is a hodge podge of styles and broken trains of creative thought. A wreck, quite frankly.



I've tried to figure out why this Jekyll-Hyde change in my abilities between the two physical locations. Here is what I have come up with. If you visit my shop, you can see it is highly influenced from my 12 years living in Europe during my early adult years. The chandelier, the curvy lines, the accessories, the lace....Those were years where my homes were filled with bits and pieces of 18th and 19th century furniture, when I would frequent restaurants and hotels dating back hundreds of years.

Suddenly, with little notice, I returned to the U.S. with few of those items I had collected and began a new life (on a strict budget). My two children and I filled our first home with what I charmingly call "garagesaleandfamilybasement" décor. The best was the cutdown library table/coffee table that we grew up with on the farm as kids. (It is back in my brother's living room at the farm now!) I was so busy making a living and keeping up with the kids that not much attention was put into decorating!

Fast forward 25 years, several jobs and the building of two very different businesses.....suddenly I can shop -- not with abandon -- but at least with an eye that anything I buy will be resold. That makes you look for items of distinction and economy and multipurpose. You look for items that will charm and turn over. And then my golden rule for this business: Buy low, sell low and sell a lot. Who wants to enter my shop and see things over and over again? No, you are hoping to find new things and fresh ideas.

Therein lies the disconnect. When I buy for the shop or even decorate there, it is temporary.....I won't be living with it for long. This make me free and able to pivot from one idea to the next without hesitation. Not so at home! First, my thriftiness instinct kicks in -- you want things to be the way you will be happy with them for a long time! You can't invest hours of time and hundreds of dollars into something you may not like tomorrow! I stop trusting my instincts.....So where does it end?

Right here, right now. And here is why.....my kitchen is literally falling apart. The cabinetry is covered with Thermafoil and it is starting to crack and peel off the drawers and doors from ten years of hard use (did I tell you that I love to cook and do so almost every day?). The appliances are packing up on me. It looks like the aftermath of a war zone. It has to be redone if we decide to sell this house and downsize sometime in the next decade. I don't want to never enjoy the fruits (and costs) of the labor of  remodeling it. So since Chalk Paint(R) cannot work well over Thermafoil -- and the cabinets are poor quality any way, I hired a professional to redesign the kitchen lay out and widen the very narrow doorway to the dining room.



I turned to a hometown gal who I knew in grade and high school, Peggy Triggs of Grimes, owner of Cabinets by Design. This has started the ball rolling. It now means that the entire first floor is going through a redecoration. And I found two rooms of walnut French Provincial for sale on Craig's List. It arrived yesterday -- and I quickly rearranged dining and living room to accomdate it -- but we still have repainting everywhere to do.....

 The Old

The New

So the story is not over......Follow us as we prepare for the contractors to come in and tear out the kitchen along with tips and ideas as we move forward. I can't imagine where all of this is going. So let's discover it together!
   

Thursday, October 9, 2014

TLC Vintage Collection October Newsletter Volume 17

Here is what is happening at TLC Vintage Collection, Central Iowa Headquarters
 for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan!
 
 
WHAT'S NEW
 
Burgundy, a scrumptious cranberry red, has arrived in both quart and sample sizes. This is the latest color of Chalk Paint (R) Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan. A great autumn type color arrives just in time to go with fall decor.




Lemon scent Scrubby soap! We have carried orange and now we have lemon too! Great for cleaning brushes as it is infused through a plastic sponge that helps scrub off crusty paint. Great degreaser to also use at your kitchen sink.





Christmas cards, labels and mini bags are here! Humorous or heartfelt, the Shannon Martin line
does it again. We have lots of stocking stuffers, too,in small sizes of lip balm and body butter.






SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow my colleagues in Canada as they celebrate October and 31 days of Annie Sloan colors. Each day a Stockist posts about a color with background and photos. Then Canadian customer compete for prizes by submitting their projects using the day's color. Pull up Annie Sloan Canada 31 days of Chalk Paint.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Annie-Sloan-Canada-31-Days-of-Chalk-Paint/866453600056134




 
Tip of the Month
Suddenly I am into layering colors. I also like the hint of an underlying wood. Check out one of my September blogs on layering colors with a sponge, then sanding to give a blended look. Sorry this is short this month, but I accidentally destroyed my computer and am waiting on a new one.

WORKSHOPS

Chalk Paint® 101

Learn the fundamentals of painting with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. One and two color distressing, rustic, modern, faux copper patina, antiquing as well as application of soft clear and dark wax. Class is $85 in advance. Offered on the following dates:

November 1:  9 am to noon

December 6: 9 am to noon

Chalk Paint (R) 201 All New!
More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan! Crackle, frottage, wet wax distress and more! In advance, $85. Minimum of 4 people.
November 8: 9 am to noon.


Chalk Paint (R) Your Kitchen Cabinets & Built-Ins! How to renew your dated cabinets at a fraction of the cos without replacing them! $85 in advance. Minimum 3 people.
Oct. 25: Noon to 3 pm


Wood Icing
Ice wood like you would ice a cake. Texture paste to add dimension to any surface! No one else is offering this product or class in Iowa.
November 22: Noon to 3 pm


Artisan Enhancements Special Effects!
Crackle, Pearl Plaster, Transfer Gel, Gulding Foil! Fun beyond description! 4 person minimum. $85 in advance.
Oct. 11: Noon to 3 pm


Peeling Paint, Crust & Ctrud
Perfect for the junker who wants to blend a newer piece or add a more rustic finish to an item to blend in. Peeling off paint, layers of crust and crud...this is a fun evening class! Offered once to see how you like it.
Oct. 13: 6-9 pm


Introduction to Milk Paint
A variety of applications for the use of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint. Wax distress, layering, staining and more!
Oct. 18: 9 am to noon.
Dec. 13: 9 am to noon.


Girls Night Out! Wine, Cheese and Paint Therapy!
Put together a group of girlfriends and spend 3 hours in the studio painting! Organize your group. Book it exclusively $360 for your group of up to 8 people. You bring the wine, we provide the cheese and paint!
Oct. 14: 6:30 to 9:30 pm


Cancellation Policy: Payment is required to reserve your place in class. Fees are non-refundable. But if your plans change and you give two weeks’ notice before your class date, you can take the class at a later date that it is offered within six months of original date. Under two weeks, I will try to fill your space and then you can choose another class date when offered. However, if I am unable to fill your space, you will forfeit your fee. Thank you for your understanding of this policy.
                         

Friday, September 19, 2014

Burgundy Arrives Today at TLC Vintage, Central Iowa Headquarters for Chalk Paint®

 

TLC Vintage Collection, 

Central Iowa Headquarters

for

Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan 

Announces The Arrival Today of

Burgundy!


 

Quarts will be available this late this afternoon at TLC Vintage Collection. Sample sizes not until next week. We will begin shipping to out of town customers Monday at the latest for quart sizes.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Mille Feuille Finish -- or Cheryl's Kitchen Sponge Technique!

At TLC Vintage Collection, Central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, we are always looking for brilliant, easy, practical paint finishes and methods to share with our readers. Well.....today is the best ever so far, thanks to my dear friend and stockist colleague -- Cheryl Frampton -- who is clever, witty and brilliant - owner of the Big White Goose, Canby OR and her friend Bob -- your common kitchen sponge! I buy mine, 3/$1, at Dollar Tree. Great tool for your workbench!



So let's take your first half 1900s hall table and turn it into something phenomenal with little paint and product in about two hours, start to finish!






Clean your furniture with dish soap and warm water, rinse, let dry. Then apply small amount of French Linen to your clean, new sponge and gently whisk it over the surface. Do not try for full coverage.....let some wood and varnish show through. Once dry, do the same with Duck Egg Blue....do not apply paint into crevices....let it fall where it may. After this level dries, you will do the same with Paris Grey...



Next you will sand lightly with 200-600 grit sandpaper to merge colors and bring out any natural imperfections of the piece. Take the dust off with a tack cloth or cheese cloth.






The finale is to do a blended wax of Clear Soft Wax and Renaissance Gilding Wax (both available at our physical store and on line at www.tlcvintagecollection.com). Apply and wipe off the excess as normal, leaving extra in cracks and ridges to help leave a metallic gold sheen.

Let dry for a few days before buffing or placing items on top. Patina look finish with panache!