TLC Vintage June Newsletter!

June 2014
Volume 13

TIP OF THE MONTH
Staining, liming or pickling raw wood – A refreshing look for outdoors in summer is just a hint of color to raw wood! After power washing or sanding decks and outdoor wood furniture, consider using either Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan or Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint as a stain for your wood. This is sometimes called liming or pickling and will leave a hint of color while you can still see the grain of the wood! Since there are very few blue flowers in my garden any time of the year, I am thinking of Provence. Instead of using deck stain in the traditional redwood or cedar, how about Primer Red? Just water your paint so that it easily soaks into the wood, then wipe off any excess. Many people are using Miss Mustard Seed’s Curio to look like a walnut stain on the top of chest of drawers, then painting the rest of the piece in another color for a dramatic, traditional look! You may want to just let your outdoor surfaces weather or use Thompson’s Water Seal after your paint has dried.



NEW PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Annie Sloan Blue Acrylic Paint Brushes – For a modern, ultra smooth finish try Annie's  beautiful new brushes! Blue acrylic and very fine, these are for when you want no brush strokes showing. Be sure to water your second coat a little and use 600 grit sand paper between coats!

 

Mini Oval Wax Brush – This is excellent for large horizontal surfaces so you can wax with a long wide arm movement. It has a strap over the oval to slip your hand through. Since the brush cannot fit into our wax cans, it comes with a plastic knife for you to “butter” the brush with wax. Easy on the hand and rotator cuff when doing a big job like a table. Or consider laying chests or armoires on side or backs to make the large surfaces easier to wax. Remember to work in area sizes that allow you to wipe off the excess wax before it starts to cure. $15.

TLC Vintage has branched out into some décor and gift items for those friends who accompany others who are shopping for paint! Or for those that need to pick up that last minute gift!

Annie Sloan’s Candles and Diffusers  – Annie has developed several candles and diffusers based on her paint color names, such as Burgundy, Provence and Antibes. These room scents are subtle and beautiful and remind Annie of the aromas and smells of the  countrysides of the names. Candles $40, diffusers $52.

Sweet Doe Soaps – Iowa made, Sweet Doe Soaps are goat milk based and come in 7 scents! $6 each. We have three scents of essential oil Lotion Bars for those with problematic skin, such as eczema or chronic dry skin. $4 each. And last Body Butter which comes in three scents – Lavender, Whisper and Serenity. No drying alcohol in this rich, smooth body cream! $15 each but lasts a long time!

Uncorked Soy Candles – From Candie’s Aromatic Infusions right here in Iowa, we have brought in soy candles that are in repurposed wine and liquor bottles that have been cut down to size! Three different sizes ranging up to 100 hours of burn time and priced from $20 to $25. The smallest, called Uncorked, are in drinking glass sized green wine bottles with attractive label and scents and packaged in recycled boxes. The medium sized ones come in taller green wine bottles that have fun sayings on the labels. And finally the liquor bottles are the largest and come in cut down attractive bottles such as Templeton Rye and Grey Goose.

Fresh Style Magazine – Just $8 per issue. In the latest issue there is about a 20 page spread on Annie Sloan, her business and her family. At our annual conference at the beginning of May, Fresh Style editor and pubisher announced that moving forward Annie will be a contributing editor. I think you will be excited to read future issues with articles by Annie Sloan.


Websites, blogs and travel
Traveling this summer? Love vintage shops and other quirky places? Check out the following two sites for potential websites, blogs or travel agendas! Annie Sloan stockists are not a franchise situation. Each stockist is chosen on an individual basis and has a retail store which may vary in style or product mix. We have people who specialize in vintage fabrics, classic furniture, home decorating, interior design, artist studios and galleries, antique malls, and more! Probably the most unusual I’ve discovered specializes in vintage bathroom fixtures! How do you find us when you travel? Just go to the retailer map at www.anniesloanunfolded.com and find locations along your route. Going overseas? Check out Australia and New Zealand here too! Or heading across the big pond to Britain and Europe or even South Africa? Go to Annie’s website, and she has listings for all those locations. www.anniesloan.com
Or looking for a quick outing around Iowa or for upcoming events, check out Mike’s website and Facebook page. http://www.iowaantiquenetwork.com/

WORKSHOPS

TLC Vintage has scheduled a full six months of classes to help you with your planning! Remember to book with us in advance! We need to know about 3 days ahead of time to be sure we have enough materials prepared for your attendance. Remember this is also great when you have family in town. We have also scheduled some Girls Nights Out – but you can set up one for your own group by giving us a call with your date preferences.

Chalk Paint® 101 Plus!
Six starter paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 in advance.  Minimum of 4 people.
June  9:  6 pm to 9 pm  JUST 4 SPACES STILL AVAILABLE
July 12: 9 am to noon       Aug 9: 9 am to noon
Sep 6: Noon to 3 pm         Oct 4: Noon to 3 pm

Chalk Paint® Jump Start!
All new mini starter class. Just an hour and a half! $50 in advance. Minimum of 4 people
June 16: 6-7:30 pm
July 14: 6-7:30 pm               Aug 4: 6:7:30 pm  
Sep 15: 6-7:30 pm               Oct 6: 6-7:30 pm


Chalk Paint® 201 All New!
More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan!  Crackle, frottage, wet wax distress and more! In advance $85. Minimum of 4 people.
 June 28: 9 am to noon
July 22: 6-9 pm       Sep 6: Noon to 3 pm

Chalk Paint® Your Kitchen Cabinets & Built-Ins! How to renew your dated cabinets at a fraction of the cost without replacing them! $135 in advance. Minimum 3 people.
June 14: Noon to 4 pm           July 26: Noon to 4 pm     Aug 16: Noon to 4 pm
Oct 25: Noon to 4 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!
July 19: 9 am to 4 pm
Sep 13: 9 am to 4 pm


Artisan Enhancements Special Effects!
Crackle, Pearl Plaster, Transfer Gel, Venetian Plaster and easier than ever before gilding! Fun beyond description! 4 person minimum. $140 in advance
June 21: Noon to 4 pm – Just 3 spaces still available
Aug 23: Noon to 4 pm         Oct 11: Noon to 4 pm
Stencil & Decoupage
Enhance furniture and décor – even your easy chair with stencils. Learn to add an image to a surface using decoupage. 4 person minimum. $75 in advance.
Jun 14: 9 am to noon      Aug 11: 6-9 pm
Oct 18: 9 am to noon

Girls Night Out! Wine, Cheese, 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 up to 8 people. You bring the wine, we provide the cheese and paint!
June 24: 6:30-9:30 pm
July 8: 6:30-9:30 pm        Aug 19: 6:30-9:30 pm
Sep 23: 6:30-9:30 pm      Oct 14: 6:30-9:30 pm

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 week,s 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)
Hours: M-F 10 am to 5 pm Sat 10 am to 3 pm   Available by special appointment outside these hours
Email:  tlcvintage@tlcvintagecollection.com                    Website: www.tlcvintagecollection.com
Blog: www.tlcvintagecollection.blogspot.com     Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest: TLC Vintage

Chalk Paint® Used On Metal -- Endless Possibilities!

Here at TLC Vintage Collection, central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, there is no stopping us when it comes to experimenting. We often think that ever dog (broken down piece of furnishings) deserves its day -- a wonderful transformation!

And so it goes, that a decidedly sad vintage lamp -- spray painted bright green years ago, came into our shop. Okay, so it didn't walk in! I walked it in, unwilling to leave it behind in the basement of an estate sale. It was cute in its homely way -- good bones, you know.

It was rusty and crusty. But we washed her down, took steel wool to the rust and removed all the loose bits of paint. And as we did, this cute little lamp whispered to us that she had once been pretty and refined, and she would love to really be a chandelier! Well what little floor lamp wouldn't! So we set our creativity to the task. First, a pick me up covering or two of Paloma -- a subtle grey lavender.

We added a bit of Pure White dry brushing to set off the details in the metal. Then sealed up all the paint with a coat of clear wax.

Next we stenciled a chandelier onto each segment of a white shade we had (among dozens) in storage! Hoarders of odd things, we are! The stenciled chandeliers were in Henrietta then it and Paloma dry brushed on the shade.

Then we rummaged through the crystals treasure chest for a little bling to add to our transformed ugly duckling. And voila! Somebody is ready to grace some little girl's bedroom -- or maybe some grown girl's shabby hide away! So now you know! Metal, fabric -- no problem -- just transform it with Chalk Paint®!

#morethanpaint #anniesloan #chalkpaint #tlcvintagecollection #anniesloanunfolded #iowachalkpaint

Annie Sloan, Have You Seen My Hubby?

Dear Annie Sloan, 

Sorry to bother you about this! I know you are busy with a new book, training new stockists in Europe, preparing to visit the U.S. next month for your annual conference. But honestly, Annie, my husband is missing and I know for a fact -- you are responsible! Please, let me explain.

                                                       ...Steven M Sipple for The Journal Star




Annie, this is a picture of Nebraska University's Memorial Stadium on game day -- the most sacred spot in the world to my husband, who is a Cornhusker through and through. To understand this, you need to think of Manchester United fans and you will understand his passion. And the only color that dominates a Husker fan is red -- the sea of red you see in this photo. A miniature version of this sea of red hits you if you walk into our closet where about half of Dan's side is plastered with red clothing. It is a brilliant red, much like.....

                                                        ...by Christopher Drake for Annie Sloan

your very own Chalk Paint® decorative paint color called Emperor's Silk. Please understand, this color has dominated Dan's life since he was a small boy being raised in Lincoln, Nebraska where he shared a passion for all things Husker Red with his father and sister! (His mother was from Iowa like me, and not that big a fan!)

But, I digress. Back to the issue of what you have done with my husband! This all started about a year ago as he was retiring from a long, very loved career as a journalist. I needed help in my shop -- TLC Vintage Collection -- where you know I am a devoted stockist for you and Annie Sloan Unfolded, your American distributor. So Dan agreed to help -- initially we thought with inventory, the bookkeeping, janitorial -- just anything that needed done and I didn't have time to do. That's when things started to change.

The first time, I just thought it was a fluke. It went like this: "Honey, did you see that truck?"

Me: "No."

Dan: "It was painted Florence!" He was excited, he was pointing, I was looking and sure enough! The truck was painted a color that very much resembled.....

                                                       ...by Christopher Drake for Annie Sloan



your amazing color called Florence! Yes, he was right as I saw the truck's tailgate glistening as it drove away! 

Me: "That's amazing. You are right!" (First time, for everything, I chuckled to myself).

But it didn't end there, Annie! A few nights later, the two of us are relaxing in our hot tub in the garden after a long day at work. Dan was sipping his beverage of choice, as was I -- enjoying the blooming flowers and trees, the humming birds feeding from the hibiscus. Suddenly, Dan let out a long sigh and said.....and I quote:

"Do you REALLY know what I love about Annie's colors?"

Okay, so I am thinking this has got to be really good! We are going to hear all about Emporer's Silk and how many ways we can use it in our house, right? But no, here it comes....

Dan: "All the beautiful blues! She just has so many great blues! Louis and Aubusson and Napoleonic...there are just so many great blues! Even Greek!"

I think I dropped my glass of Scotch into the hot tub at this point! Who was this man -- this stranger -- sitting in my hot tub! And what had you done -- Annie Sloan -- with my husband? Okay, so he looked like Dan. But, oh brother, this was not Dan-Speak!

Well, I realized then and there that there was only one solution. So I sent this guy that looked like Dan off to official training in High Point NC with the revered Barb Skivington. If my husband was going to start talking the talk of Chalk Paint® -- we better be sure he could walk the walk,   errrr -- paint the paint, that is!

This new guy, the Renaissance version of my former husband Dan, is an integral part of our little three-person shop. He loves to explain the many uses of Chalk Paint® to our customers, pointing out techniques and color combinations. But we still see an inkling of the old Dan when someone starts asking for a match for Periwinkle or Fuschia or Persimmon! In a flash, he will call on Mary Lou or myself to help out, looking like a fish out of water! 

Now, Annie -- can you just help me get some of that plentiful red out of our walk-in closet???

Best regards, your devoted Central Iowa stockist, Janet

TLC Vintage Collection April Newsletter -- Volume 11

April 2014
Volume 11

UPCOMING EVENTS!
Junk Jubilee – April 25-27 – TLC Vintage and its collaborators have decided to go with a theme for the spring show! We are excited and working hard in advance of the event. State Fairgrounds, 4-H Building.

Vintage & Junk Show Schedule – To map out the shows you want to see or just map a day of junking, check out IowaAntiquesNetwork. Here is a link to Mike’s schedule of upcoming events! http://iowaantiquenetwork.com/events

TIP OF THE MONTH
Waxing Made Easy! Waxing a piece should be no more difficult than painting it! Really! Most people are making it way to difficult. First, have plenty of lintless cloths at hand – teeshirts that have been washed a million times, shop rags. Do not buy the tee shirt rags at the store – these were never washed and are full of lint. Second, a good wax brush will reduce your effort, time and cost of waxing. Three, think of the soft clear wax as you would moisturizer or cold cream on your face. You do not handle it roughly. Gently – with just a little more force than painting – brush it into your paint in long strokes. Cover about a 15 inch square area. Be generous with your wax. Put down your brush and gently but firmly wipe of the excess wax. Turn the cloth to a new clean side periodically so you are not just pushing the wax you have picked up into a new area. Do NOT buff the wax. You are just removing the excess. It is perfect when you can no longer see your finger print in it and it does not feel wet or greasy. More wax tips next month!

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
Stencil Cremes and Brushes – Chalk Paint® works great on stenciling. But we have something new you will also love. Many colors of Stencil Cremes by Royal Design Studio. Try them – metallic, peacock blue, brilliant reds and more! Plus we have small to large stencil brushes to make the job easier.

Stencils –We try to keep our stencil selection fresh for your picking! Check out the new French themed ones we carry from Artisan Enhancements! Only available through Annie Sloan Stockists!

THREE GREAT FACEBOOK PAGES!
Iowa Antiques Network – Webster City
Chalk Paint – Oxford England by Annie Sloan
Not on Facebook? Here are some stops in Des Moines to make as they do not do FB:
Euclid Flea Market, Repeat Boutique on Ingersoll, Vintage Cellar in Pleasant Hill, Collectomania. These are placed I go to find some great things!


WORKSHOPS
Chalk Paint® 101 Plus!
Six starter paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 in advance.
April 7: 6 pm to 9 pm  (2 spots available)   May 3: 9 am to noon
June  9:  6 pm to 9 pm  July 12: 9 am to noon

Chalk Paint® Jump Start!
All new mini starter class. Just an hour and a half! $50 in advance. All held 6-7:30 pm except where noted otherwise.
April 14 (2 spots available             May 10: 10-11:30 am    June 16       July 14

Chalk Paint® 201 All New!
More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan!  Crackle, frottage, wet wax distress and more! In advance $85. All 9 am to noon Saturdays, except where noted otherwise.
May 24      June 28         July 22: 6- 9 pm

Chalk Paint® Your Kitchen Cabinets & Built-Ins! How to renew your dated cabinets at a fraction of the cost without replacing them! $135 in advance. All noon to 4 pm unless otherwise noted.
 April 19 (two spots available)        May 5: 6 to 10 pm
June 14             July 26

Wood Icing®
Learn how to “ice” wood, just like you would ice a cake. Create your own textured and built up decorations instead of purchasing plastic or wood appliques! All classes 9 am to 4 pm with break for lunch. $150 in advance.
 May 18     July 19

Studio Time -- by request!
This can be a tutoring session, a time/place for you to bring in and leave a piece of furniture to work on with helpful oversight, or a girls' afternoon or evening out. $25 per hour for individual, and adjusted for groups. Requirement that you purchase and use our materials and supplies for your project. Call to reserve and check availability.

Class Size & Cancellation Policy: We maintain the right to refund your money or arrange with you 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 and if your spot is filled we will allow you to reschedule, otherwise your fee is forfeited.