December TLC Vintage Collection -- Volume 7

 

WHAT’S NEW AT TLC VINTAGE COLLECTION

BREAKING NEWS – SAMPLES SIZES COMING BACK IN STOCK!!!!!

 

We know you will be as excited as we are! A full color offering of sample sizes (4 oz) should arrive today, December 3! Thirty-one colors! We are limited to 8 of some and 16 of others at this point. So if you have been waiting on them, hurry on in! We would love to see you, just as we love to see these lining our shelves again! Who knew they would be missed so much! Call or watch FB to be sure they arrived!

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS  -- SWEET CITY SALVAGE OPENS in 2014!

 

What’s the buzz? TLC Vintage is opening a small annex called Sweet City Salvage. We don’t have the keys yet, so cannot say exactly what date, but we are hoping for January sometime. We plan to have three or four vendors in addition to us. It will be better than the hours of occasional shops because of its location directly across the parking from TLC’s front door. So you can visit it any time we are open. Unlike the early to mid century décor and painted furniture of TLC Vintage, Sweet City Salvage will concentrate on crusty, rusty, dusty things – some repurposed, some not. We hope this is the beginning of something big. Stay tuned. And remember at Sweet City Salvage, Rust is Golden!

 

 

 

Janet’s Facebook Pages Shout-Out!

 

Reclaimed Treasure on Main – Haverhill, IA

Gigi’s Shabby Cottage – Brass Armadillo, Texas Ave

The Old Blue Chair – Eddyville
 

Tip of the Month
 

Did you know there are several ways to distress? No, I’m not talking using metal chains to beat up the furniture – flashback to the 1960-70s method of getting an old battered look to furniture! No, you can make it a lot easier than that. The first method is for when you use just one color of Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan over a varnished wood surface. You can wet distress either before or immediately after waxing. It is more controlled if you do it immediately after waxing and removing the excess as normal. Then take a clean, slightly damp sponge, such as a Scotch-Brite, and gently go over the edges or other area with the rough side, then clean off the residue with the sponge side. When dry, rewax to reseal the piece. The second method is the one I really prefer, whether with one or two color paint applications. After waxing, I use 150 grit sandpaper to distress either to the first color or in some areas down to the varnish layer, so I get three dimensions of color. After distressing, rewax again to reseal the piece. Why don’t I wet distress with two color applications? Because the water will activate both colors of paint again and they will bleed into each other creating an entirely different color in those areas where water is applied. Your beautiful Old Ochre over Emperor’s Silk will suddenly become a pink mess! I know, I’ve been there.....Also, I distress the same day I paint and wax. If you wait until the next day the wax will have cured pretty hard and it will take a lot more effort to distress. Believe me! I’ve been there too!

 

 

WORKSHOPS

Chalk Paint® 101 Plus!

Learn six paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 in advance. 4 person minimum. Offered on the following Saturdays:

December 7 – 9 am to noon -- Just 2 spaces available!

January 11 – 9 am to noon

February 15 – 9 am to noon

March 1  -- 9 am to noon

 

Mid-week Paint Therapy

One Wednesday a month fun class. New rehab each month. 12:30-2:30 $25 Bring your own piece!

January 8 – Frame Rec!

February 12  -  Lamp Reform!

March 5  -  The Family Jewels Box (jewelry or small boxes)

 

Chalk Paint® 201 All New!

More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan!  Crackle, frottage, wet wax distress and more! In advance $85. 4 person minimum.

January 18 – 9 am to noon

February 22 – 9 am to noon

March 8 – 9 am to noon

 

 

OH! By the way, Happy Holidays!!!

 

 

 

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. $20 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.

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

Holiday Paint & Workshop Give-Aways!

TLC Vintage Collection, central Iowa headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, is getting into the holiday mood!!! And our paint distributor, Annie Sloan Unfolded, helped inspire us with this great $1500 value give away of Annie Sloan products! Best thing -- no purchase necessary! And we are sweetening the pot locally! Read on!

Here's all you have to do to enter this amazing contest. Stop by our shop between November 25 and December 7 and have your picture taken in front of our wonderful holiday paint display!

And while you are in the store you can enter TLC Vintage's very own drawing where two lucky winners will receive a free spot in a workshop of their choice during the first quarter of 2014!  And for both contests, no purchase is necessary to enter!

How do you win that big paint give away? You will post your photo on the distributor's website and have your friends and family vote for you to win!

Now, do you want to see how we transformed that great dresser up above? Here is how this piece looked when it came into our shop this past summer!

We had to stabilize the mirror and a few loose pieces. But overall this is a very solid piece. I was inspired by a sample we did at a recent Train The Trainer session in Spokane with the marvelous Barb Skivington!

Our base coat is Primer Red. Second coat is Aubusson Blue. Next we used Artisan Enhancement foil size and their wonderful rolls of foil on a backing -- so much easier to work with than leaf!
Finally we did a layer of Duck Egg Blue, which we left in crevices to accent the carved details and drug off with a damp cloth in some areas. Clear wax and distress to get down to the Primer Red and to knock back the bright gilding! And  voila!

A dreamy finish to honor a beautiful old piece. We also found that a previous owner had listed his/her US Savings bond purchase in pencil along the side of the top drawer! We are preserving that part for someone to enjoy a little history of the piece!

TLC Vintage Collection Newsletter Volume 6

TLC Vintage Collection Newsletter

Volume 6
 

You are a valued client and we want to tell you about new products and upcoming events at our store at 7518 Hickman Road in Sherwood Forest Shopping Center -- Central Iowa Headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan!

 

 

 

TIP OF THE MONTH

 

Moderation in all things – that means the temperature where you paint and wax your furniture. Your paint and wax should be stored at normal household moderate temperatures – not in your garage where they will be affected by heat and cold depending on the season. I do not recommend painting outside in the summer. Who wants to pick gnats or cotton tree lint out of your paint? Also heat and breeze can cause your paint to dry too quickly, resulting in dragging paint when you try to touch it up. Room temperature (68-72 degree)Tip wax hitting a 40 degree surface in your garage will result in all kinds of problems as your wax immediately hardens, not giving you time to wipe back the excess!

 

 

 

NEW PRODUCTS

 

Black Bristle Paint Brushes: We are moving to a better quality paint brush being offered at the shop. We will still offer the inexpensive chip brushes, but now we have a thicker, moderately priced 1 and 2 inch paint brush. This is an alternative to the inexpensive, disposable chip brushes and the very high grade and more expensive Annie Sloan® paint brushes.

 

Janet’s Three Facebook Shout-outs!

 

Junktastic – out of Dumont, IA – you will love her spin on all things rescued!

 

Sheldahl Crossing – Slater, IA – consignment plus of vintage and rustic! New big room at the back of the store!

 

Stuff Enuff – Nevada – visit Cali and Mike and they will show you their flea and antique

 

 

WORKSHOPS

Click here to book a workshop!

http://www.tlcvintagecollection.com/Take-a-Workshop.html

 

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 9 – 9 am to noon

December 7 – 9 am to noon

January 11 – 9 am to noon

February 15 – 9 am to noon

 

Mid-week Paint Therapy 

January 8 – Wednesday – 12:30-2:30

Frame Rec--new monthly daytime fun class. New topic each month. This time bring a frame or buy one in the shop. We provide the paint and other products to rehab it! $25

 

Chalk Paint® 201

January 18 – Saturday -- 9 am to noon

First time offered!!! More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan’s! Two methods of crackle, frottage, dying fabric and more! Be the first in your neighborhood to sign up! $85 All materials provided!

 

 

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. $20 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.

 

 

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.

TLC Vintage Offering Iowa Chalk Paint® Plus Workshops!

TLC Vintage Collection is Iowa's largest retailer of Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. We stay up to date on the latest paint techniques of Annie Sloan and are expanding our workshops by popular demand in 2014!

How does Chalk Paint® 201 sound, as well as Mid-Week Paint Therapy and Chalk Paint® Plus??? In addition,we will be asking you to email us your name and interest in a number of specialty classes and we will schedule those with small groups at convenient dates when we have enough people to offer them!

Our two-person trained workshop team is going for advanced training in November and our new classes will include, but not be limited to:

Mid-Week Paint Therapy -- Offered on the first or second Wednesday of each month in 2014! Just a little light relief to get through hump day. Each month a different theme! January will be Frame Rec -- rehab a frame or framed mirror. February will be Stencilitis! Basic stenciling! Each Paint Therapy is just two hours and just $25!

Chalk Paint® 101 -- The best value beginner class around! 7 paint techniques and how to properly apply both Clear and Dark Soft Wax, along with wax detailing! We provide everything you need to leave with the confidence to tackle your first project! Offered each month!

Chalk Paint® 201 -- All new! Frottage, fabric dying, cracked and chipped paint technique and more! Annie Sloan's newest techniques!

Chalk Paint® Plus -- These classes will be offered as demand is there but at least one quarterly. Topics will include Kitchen and Built-ins Rehab, Wood Icing, Artisan Enhancements!

For more information, call the shop at 515-276-1577 or visit www.tlcvintagecollection.com

TLC Vintage Collection Newsletter Volume 5

 

 

WHAT’S NEW AT TLC VINTAGE COLLECTION
You are a valued client and we want to tell you about new products and upcoming events at our store at 7518 Hickman Road in Sherwood Forest Shopping Center.

NEW PRODUCTS:
Stencil Creams: By Royal Design Studio in 10 colors. Creamy slightly metallic or pearlized paints to enhance your stenciled pieces!

More Stencils: By Royal Design and Maison de Stencils including Chalk Board style letters and numbers like you see on café wall menus, lace doilies, mannequin, French writing, feedsack designs,

Junk and Vintage Jewelry: We have a new local supplier of jewelry that is reasonable and a charming blend of repro and found things. You will love these by Vintage Market of Urbandale!

TIP OF THE MONTH:
Buy a gallon of distilled water to keep on your work bench! Use it instead of tap water to thin your paint in or out of the can! This will help you from contaminating the paint with the bacteria and other materials present in tapwater. Why is this important? Tap water sealed in with your paint for weeks before you use you paint again, may cause bacteria or enzyme activity that will either make the paint develop mold or an odor. It is always a good idea to take what you think you will use out of the can, instead of painting "out of the can" to prevent contaminants!

STORE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH:
Come in and check out how we have taken a pair of garage sale oil paintings, taken them off the canvas and used them as the upholstery on two chairs. The chairs wood and upholstery were then painted with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in colors that complement the paintings!

 

Before!

 

After!

THREE OF JANET'S FAVORITE FACEBOOK PAGES:
2 Crazy Redheads – Two local gals with great ideas! Love ‘em, love their junk!
The Shabby Nest – Lots of shabby chic sweet at its best! Feather your nest with her style!
Junk Parlor – Rust with style and class. Tons of fun…check it out!

 

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:
October 22 –6 pm to 9 pm
November 9 – 9 am to noon
December 7 – 9 am to noon
January 11 – 9 am to noon

Update Your Kitchen Cabinets or Built-ins!October 19 -- Saturday -- Noon to 4 pm

In this class you will decide how to redo your kitchen cabinets or built-ins. How to prep for the job, what materials to purchase, decide on colors and techniques and do a board or door that will be your sample of your future rehab. $120


Chalk Paint® 201 In 2014!!!!!

First time offered!!! More amazing paint techniques of Annie Sloan’s! Two methods of crackle, frottage, dying fabric and more! Watch here for first quarter dates!!!!

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. $17.50 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.

　
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.
Payment required in advance to reserve place in class. Fees are nonrefundable. Cancellations up to two weeks before the session.

Oil Painting Upholstery! Why not?

New ideas and applications fascinate me these days. When I went down to St Louis to take a Wood Icing® workshop from owner Rose Wilde, I saw a terrific chair in her art studio. She has a number of artists who consign work in her store. One was using oil painting canvases as upholstery. I loved the look and waited for the right pieces to show up! They eventually did....

 

Two upholstery Queen Anne style chairs and two still life oil paintings that all appealed to me.

 

My talented new employee Mary Lou Killebrew and I decided this was a project we should undertake Thursday morning. And by the end of business Friday, the work was complete!

 

 

                           What do you think? Unusual accent chairs for someone to enjoy!

How did we do it? Fortunately the beading on the chair back upholstery was simply glued on, so we removed that and washed down and rinsed all the wood with dish soap and water. Mary Lou painted the wood with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Chateau Grey whish is a wonderful sage green. I spritzed the upholster on the back and seat with water and painted those with Arles, which worked nicely with the gold yellow color in the vases of the still life paintings. Everything received two coats. We followed this with two coats of Annie Sloan's soft clear wax on the painted wood.

Next, I removed the paintings from their frames and stretchers. I traced the upholstered area onto tracing paper, then centered it over the paintings and cut around it with about an inch margin. I then also cut a couple layers of batting to plump up the back upholstery so the canvases would not get creased. Laying the batting over the upholstery, I worked with a staple gun around the area, tucking under the edges of the painting as I went.

 I found yards of edging that complemented the paintings at Hobby Lobby in the closeout section for $4.  I must admit I was happy there were two of us to apply this around the edge of the paintings. We used a two part, five minute set up epoxy. We learned as we went that it was best to let the epoxy set for about 2-3 minutes before we applied it to our material so it did not soak in or drip...Things went much faster when we had that worked out.

We think this is a very sharp look and fun project that we imagine will catch on! Was a fun and rewarding project!

TLC Vintage Newsletter Volume 4

Newsletter Volume 4
September 2013

CENTRAL IOWA HEADQUARTERS Chalk Paint® Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint ______________________________________________ Visit us at 7518 Hickman Rd in Des Moines! New products:   Scrubby! Arriving next week! A natural soap infused scrubber that has an orange aroma. Great for cleaning and conditioning your paint brushes! TSP – Degreaser for cleaning kitchen cabinets or other items that may have collected airborn grease. Rinse off with water, then denatured alcohol and you are ready to rehab your cabs with Chalk Paint® Large Syringes – To measure paint amounts when mixing for a custom color. Or if you want to keep your can top clean for a tight fit, suction out paint with the syringe and put paint in separate container while painting. Tip of the Month: Want a super smooth finish that feels like silk to your touch? Buy 440-660 grit sandpaper and sand gently between Chalk Paint® coats. This removes even the faintest hint of brush stroke lines. Also be sure to water that second coat down just a tad with distilled water to help level your brush strokes. 0000 grade steel wool will do the same. But be sure to not apply lots of pressure or you may burnish the paint (making it shine) which makes it difficult to apply the wax. You may also sand gently after each coat of wax before polishing! Janet’s Favorite FB Pages! Each month we will mention some of our favorite businesses that are TLC Vintage customers! They are all doing super stuff, so check them out! re:home – This new occasional shop in Winterset, IA 68 E Court St, on the square premiers September 5-8! Then open the second weekend of each month! Many vendors wears – upcycled and repurposed! Creation Saturday – Two transplanted farm sisters taking old barn wood to new heights! Custom work as well! Junkin Cowgirls – 121 E Monroe, Pleasantville, IA. Open first weekend each month                                                                      Workshop Schedule 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: September 7 – SOLD OUT September 24 – SOLD OUT October 5 – 9 am to noon – One space available as of 9/4 October 22 –6 pm to 9 pm –Just added due to high demand! November 9 – 9 am to noon December 7 – 9 am to noon Wood Icing! September 21, Saturday 8:30-11  am – Break – 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Think of icing a cake then transfer that idea over to a wood box or panel! Everything included. Break for you to go out to lunch or junking around town while the texture dries before coming back to paint your work. $125 Update Your Kitchen Cabinets or Built-ins!October 19 -- Saturday -- Noon to 4 pm In this class you will decide how to redo your kitchen cabinets or built-ins. How to prep for the job, what materials to purchase, decide on colors and techniques and do a board or door that will be your sample of your future rehab.  $120 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. $15 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. 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.

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Some Projects Take a Little Longer Than Others.....

Seriously, I am working on that procrastination thing! Remember this? I think I first posted it somewhere around last November! Then I posted stages of it! Then it got stuck in the back of my priority list. But at last.....

 

...it is done, done, done!

 

 

I am not quite sure why it took this long except that I get distracted by the next wonderful thing to come along. But the Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan transformation is amazing. To cover up the awful vinyl contact paper at the back of the cabinet, we wall papered old music to the back. Then we used Annie Sloan two-part Craqueleur to crack the surface and used a wash of King Gold Gilding Wax over the surface to give it glimmer. The cabinet is lighted and features two glass shelves, one with a plate groove.

The doors are charming with the original metal grid in the original deep brass color. Below is a cabinet to tuck away linens and a silverware box. I just wonder what took me so long! I hope you are charmed by it!

Who Lives Here Anyway???

Funny thing happened last Tuesday. A group of junking friends were together and one said to me, "I'd love to see all the cool painted stuff at your house." Another one laughed...."There's no cool painted stuff at her house!" Hello!?!?! Why not?

               My Boring Living Room -- Best Feature Picture Window looking out to the woods!

Then, next day a new customer comes into the shop. "Oh, I just love this place. Your house must be amazing!" Dan looked at me; I looked at him and we burst out laughing!

                                  Standard 1999 development area kitchen....yawwwwnnnn!

                                                Most exciting thing is the dated wall color!

So why isn't my house as cool as my shop? The answer is: lack of passion. The shop has been a work of love and totally unfettered self-consciousness. This has happened only once in my home -- when I first moved in, and missing my 12 years in Europe, I decorated my dining room to reflect my Swiss years.

                      Typography and postmarked walls, art from Europe, sleek table and chairs.

It is in a bit of disarray at moment because of a beautiful screen I purchased from the talented Jeanene Dean of Serendipity House and it doesn't quite fit the space. But we are just talking a need to rearrange things.

So now I am on a new mission. Releasing my true self in decorating my home to be as cool as the shop. Truly at the moment, I prefer the look of the shop and love every aspect of it except for the parts where we haven't redone the floors and walls (powder room and workshop transformations yet to come). But I need to have some chandeliers at home and enjoy my new found skills at painting in the kitchen and living room. I've already started scouting cool new pieces to incorporate in our home. I'm looking at things with a new eye! Not what is practical, but that which impassions me. 

The first quick fix was the entrannce to our home. Hello, Aubusson Blue and Pure White! Chalk Paint® decorative paint is going to make this easy! Welcome home, Annie Sloan! Thank you for all the inspiration and release from my humdrum old ways! Stay tuned as we progress! 

New Products and New Classes!

TLC Vintage Collection went on a little trip to Saint Louie to visit Rose Wilde at Wood Icing! I am always so amazed when I look at a product thinking, "I could never do that!" Then you take the class and it is so easy, you wonder why you didn't try it sooner!

Wood Icing arrives in the shop today, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. Embelish every little thing you want -- cigar boxes, kitchen cabinet doors, jewelry boxes, furniture!

So with that in mind, and with Memorial Day behind me and undertaking about 800 SF of walls and floors in the shop -- I finally have the summer schedule of classes up and posted. There should be something for everyone! Chalk Paint® 101 is offered each month, a session of Refunk your Junk, a two parter due to dry time for Wood Icing, and a Crackle and Shine session. And don't forget Studio Time can be scheduled at your convenience.

For a full schedule, please visit my website at http://www.tlcvintagecollection.com/Take-a-Workshop.html

Thanks for reading and have an awesome day!

Balancing Act in a Busy World

Here at TLC Vintage Collection, central Iowa's headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, the days just fly by. They are filled with decorating the shop, completing custom painted pieces, hunting out new pieces, keeping inventories up to meet demand and searching out new products to bring into the store!

Oh, did I mention that I still have insurance clients, two children, their spouses and four growing grandchildren, a house, a garden and, and, and.

Sounds familiar doesn't it? Change the details but your list goes on and on too! So it is a balancing act and sometimes it gets out of equilibrium -- not just for a day or two but for months on end. Welcome to starting a new business!

So honestly, I am trying to get the house and garden back under control -- a stolen hour or two at a time. Welcome to what I now affectionately call, The Jungle!

I was a Master Gardener up to two years ago, but they may have dropped me from the files as I haven't kept my certification up to date with classes and volunteer hours. So for two falls, the garden has been abandoned. Enter me with a machete and hubs with loads of mulch. I have some Roundup to back me up! Fortunately the garden had good bones and most of the beds are just weedy -- not dead! Can't wait to get the herbs planted! I can't wait for the humming birds to return! Meanwhile, the Jays and Cardinals are loving the leftover thistle seeds! LOL.

The house -- never mind. Those who fall in love with my shop would be amazed at the lack of theme at home, but we will get there!

And then there is the most important thing to remember -- family! Poor hubs retired from his career of 45 plus years and immediately got pressed into two 7-day weeks! Seriously! A Sunday class followed by Junk Jubilee, then a six day week with the Just For Her Expo.....But we did manage to take off last Sunday and have someone very special over for dinner and birthday cake!

Eisley turned three so everything was pink and lavender! And then there was trying to get four kids from one to eight years old to pose for a photo!

Well, close. But I just need to stop and smell the roses, errrrr bleeding hearts, maybe? And remember that all things do grow with love -- and that is the true balance we need!

Faux Copper Patina Tutorial

Here we are at Central Iowa Headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan -- TLC -Vintage Collection! Today we are doing a step-by-step tutorial on a Faux Copper Patina that was chosen by our Facebook followers for this neat Asian-inspired chest.

First, most pieces are easily cleaned up for painting by using dish soap and water, then rinse and dry! Really dirty pieces, use TSP and then rinse well and dry!

First coat -- don't expect total coverage. Like Annie Sloan says, just slap it on so you can get onto the interesting bits! Depending on how you want the finished piece to look decide if you will go with the grain or not.  I paint the backs of my pieces as you never know what people will look at and here in the shop, all sides are exposed usually. I am careful with older pieces or quality pieces to leave the manufacturer and shipping labels legible -- just paint around them.

Decide what you will do with the pulls and hinges. In this case, I did not remove them as the whole thing should look like a metallic, patina finish when we are done!

Sorry, the lighting makes this look like Duck Egg on the close up -- but it is actually Florence!

I have just done a coat of clear wax after two coats of paint all over! This project could be finished completely by now, but we do have customers coming in to talk and discuss their next projects....Now for some of the especially fun bits! Applying some Copper Gilding Wax and it takes very little! We carry seven colors of gilding wax: 3 golds, silver, pewter, brass and now copper!

Applied copper gilding wax with finger.

Sorry for the delay in finishing this post. We had internet issues yesterday. But here i the final after dark waxing! And we added a surprise pop of Emperor's Silk to the drawers and interior!

Around The Shop

Business is wild at TLC Vintage Collection, Central Iowa Headquarters for Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan! March has been absolutely busy every single minute. Annie wanted a photo of me for her Pinterest board called The People Who Sell My Paint (check it out!). So I asked my favorite photographer, son Chris Saldanha, to snap some shots around the shop. Here they are for you to enjoy too! And thank you everyone for helping make my little shop such a success! We celebrate one year anniversary as I fly down to New Orleans April 1 for the Chalk Paint® annual convention!