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Tuesday, August 6, 2013

GETTING CREATIVE AT HOME

I am so excited to be a part of the Getting Creative at Home party, which began out of despair.    A number of bloggers were having an email pity party about not being at The Haven Bloggers’ Conference.  We knew they were all having a fabulous weekend, while we sat at home.  Julie at Lilacs and Longhorns (who apparently has a “cup half full” personality) jumped in and suggested that we have a blog party to share our favorite projects.

creative at home sb but

After all of us dried our tears, we abandoned the pity party and jumped on Julie’s party idea.  Of course, Julie made it easy for us.  She took charge, and within hours she had created a blog party.  Julie, you should become a Blog Party Planner.  Thank you for all of your work, and thanks to all 23 blogs who allowed me to take part in this blog tour, especially since I normally do a lot of tablescaping, vignetting, holiday decorating, & furniture rearranging on this blog, and I’m not sure those are “projects”.

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

My favorite projects (possibly my only projects) are chalk-painting my furniture.

CHAIRS BEFORE-AFTER

Loooong ago, when my sweetheart and I married, I painted furniture all of the time.  I was apparently using stripping agents that were harmful to my health.  (Maybe that’s why I can’t remember anything anymore.)  When all of those products were taken off the market, furniture painting became too much trouble for me.  (I’m impatient and want everything finished yesterday.)

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

So, two years ago, after reading about this new paint that required no stripping or priming, I knew that was my kind of paint.  I ordered my first can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint from France.  It wasn’t available in the U.S. then.  I painted four of the chairs that we use at the table in our sunroom.  (When I took this photo, one of the chairs was behind the table, and I didn’t pull it out for the picture – I told you, when I’m doing something, I want it finished yesterday!)

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

I am sharing something that I’ve never shared before.  (Oh, I know you are so excited!)  When I did the transfers on the chair seats, I didn’t think they were blog-worthy, so I never posted pictures of them.  When I took a photo for this post, I knew somebody would be asking me what those big smudges were on the chair seats, so I bit the bullet and showed the seats.

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

I didn’t buy another can of chalk paint for two years.  It wasn’t available near me until recently. In June, I painted these outdoor chair cushions with Annie Sloan Antique Violet chalk paint.  I assumed this was a temporary fix for my out-dated cushions (I was waiting for cushions to go on sale.)  However, I’m still using them.

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

Last month, I painted a china cabinet in our kitchen the same A.S. Antique Violet.

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

I’m sure my adventures in chalk-paint are not over. 

Now, let’s go see the other blogs that are being featured today on the Getting Creative at Home Blog Tour:

Wednesday, Aug. 7:

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

2 Little Superheroes

Stow and TellU

My Soulful Home

Glitter Glue and Paint

I know you don’t want to miss any of these links, so yesterday’s and Monday’s links are shown below.

Creative at Home Tuesday

Tuesday, Aug. 6:

Designer’s Sweet Spot

Design Dreams by Anne

Country Design Style

Shabby Art Boutique

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Creating at Home Mon features

Monday, Aug. 5:

Copper Roof Interiors

The Crafty Woman

Colors Mixed Together

The Rustic Pig

Lilacs & Longhorns

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.  I’d love to have you join me on other sites.  On my sidebar, you’ll find links to “Like” my Facebook page (it’s wonderful to be “liked”); Subscribe by Email (I love my email subscribers); Follow me on Bloglovin’, Hometalk, Pinterest, and Google + (being followed is fun).

I’m linking to  Open House Thursday at No Minimalist Here, Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted in Thyme, and Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage.

25 comments:

Debbie said...

Why in the world would you think those tranfers were not blog worthy? I LOVE them!! That's the look I'm going for in my kitchen, in fact. I had thought about transfers for the seat cushions but will probably mess it up if I try.

Amy Ellis said...

Your transfers are pretty, soft, and subtle, definitely blog worthy, especially with the white paint on the chairs! Love how the ASCP works for those outdoor cushions, too!! So fun doing the blog tour with you, Laurie!

Unknown said...

Laurie! Pretty cool stuff you are doing with chalk paint. You are the first one I've ever heard of that used it before it was sold in the US. I'm so happy to be on this blog tour with you. It's so great to get to connect with so many amazing bloggers. Happy Wednesday!

Christina Paul said...

These are wonderful! And I LOVE those transfers- I may have missed it but is there a tutorial on how you did those? I'd love to that in my dining room! I just bought my first can of Annie Sloan Paint- Funny enough there's a little place in my town that sells it ( and we are not in a big chic city by any means-lol) So glad I found you through the tour and will be following!
Cheers
Christina
PennyWise

ANNE said...

Not blog worthy??! What were you thinking?!!! I adore those chairs and that transfer is fantastic. Love love love that - can't believe you can paint fabric and get a nice finish. I know I've seen it done ove and over but can't get my mind around it. I'm going to have to try it...

Lovely blog Laurie! So glad you're a part of this tour!

xox

Denyse @ Glitter, Glue, Paint said...

Great job, Laurie! On ALL of it. You stuff is so blog worthy. I'm painting my oak bedroom set with Annie Sloan and just love the paint. My house could be in trouble. lol

Thanks for sharing your home with us.

xoxo
Denyse

One More Time Events said...

I love what you did with your chairs and the transfer is perfect. I too love using chalk paint you did a fantastic job. So nice to be on this blog tour with you.
Tammy

Laura@Elegant Nest said...

Love your chairs and china cabinet. From one chalk paint addict to another...great job!

www.mysoulfulhome.com said...

Laurie...u made me laugh & inspired me! I have not ventured into the world of chalk paint yet!! Annie Sloane oughta hire you to be her PR person! Thanks for being part of our tour!
Kelly

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Wow Laurie... I love that you painted the chair cushions!! Such an easy way to update.

Mary Beth said...

I loved seeing all of your projects....so definitely blog worthy! Thanks so much for sharing your creations with us and it is wonderful to have met you through the blog tour.

Hugs,
Mary Beth

Dewena said...

You have answered one of my questions about the chalk paint as obviously it does hold up well if you've used it for those blue cushions. I love the blue on the cabinet in your kitchen! Such a pretty accent in there.

I've enjoyed this tour of blogs so much, and Laurie, I never did refinish furniture in my younger days so I don't know what my excuse is for my poor memory!

Anonymous said...

that's awesome that you painted the cushions with AS chalk paint. I think I am the only person in the world who hasn't tried her paints but I do have her waxes and really like them. I think your chair transfer are fabulous....very subtle, which I like a lot Laurie. Happy Wednesday. ~ Lynn @thevintagenest

Thecreativeme23 said...

found you on the home tour...so glad to "meet" you - I'm a new follower!

Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG

Unknown said...

Laurie, I love your projects! And, I love the transfers...so pretty!

Thank you for your sweet words. This tour has so fun! :)

xo Julie

Anonymous said...

Love your projects....especially the chairs! Why on earth would you think it's not blog worthy?? I too use ascp and love it! I have never used it on fabric before...I
Should give it a whirl!
So happy to be on this tour with you!

Anonymous said...

Love your projects....especially the chairs! Why on earth would you think it's not blog worthy?? I too use ascp and love it! I have never used it on fabric before...I
Should give it a whirl!
So happy to be on this tour with you!

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Hi Laurie,
That was so interesting that you ordered AS paint so long ago! I won a quart of it at Haven this weekend! Can't wait to use it on something!

xinex said...

Goodness, those chairs look fabulous. If they are not blog worthy, what is? I have been painting here in Fl, furniture that I buy from Goodwill and I need more paint and more time here but I am going home soon. I never heard of chalk paint until I read it on the blog. How on earth did you know about in France?....Christine

Ivy and Elephants said...

The chairs are so pretty and oh-la-la!
The large blue buffet is gorgeous!
Hugs,
Patti

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Your painting projects all turned out beautifully! Love each piece you shared! Years ago, I too, used that nasty stripper and harsh chemicals. Today's procedures are so much easier.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Your painting projects all turned out beautifully! Love each piece you shared! Years ago, I too, used that nasty stripper and harsh chemicals. Today's procedures are so much easier.

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Morning Laurie, I smiled when I read about your early adventures in stripping and painting furniture. I was exactly the same, I remember layering on the chemical and waiting for the varnish to bubble, then I wiped the chemical off and then had to start sanding.... all of that before my brush even touched a paint pot. Now I am going to try Annie's paint.... I know, I am one of that last to try this, but I am intrigued to see how it works.
You were a trend setter and ahead of the game when you were using Annie's paint two years ago.
I find it fascinating that the paint can be used on material aswell... this is one all round paint.
Your chairs are lovely, and are certainly blog worthy.
Laurie, I have enjoyed my visit and I have become a new follower, I found your blog at No Minimalist Here. I would like to invite you to visit me at Ivy, Phyllis and Me! when you have a moment to spare as it would be lovely to see your there.
Best Wishes to you,
Daphne

Palomasea said...

The chairs are gorgeous, Laurie!!! As is the hutch...and I had no idea you could paint cushions, that's terrific...You sound like me...no patience for sanding, stripping, priming...blah blah blah...chalk paint is so brilliant!!! I will be doing my first project in the next couple of weeks, and I'll post (if it comes out ok! :))
xoxo

Unknown said...

I love your chairs...ASCP is the best! The china hutch is fabulous too!
Shawna