Chromaticity

photo via happy day vintage

Love these painted and papered vintage jewelry boxes from Happy Day vintage! {Reminds me of little pieces of "knackage"!}

The colors, patterns and textures are perfect for getting the color ideas flowing today ...and every day for that matter! 

Visit Happy Day vintage on Etsy, and check out more from this fellow lover of color....

xo,

Barb

Introductions

This little gem today is a piece that I picked up from a local dealer...and let me tell you, it is one heavy hitter. I paid more for this piece than I normally would , and I typically do not buy pieces that have the yellow and gold finish on them {or any other finish} simply because I do not like previous colors showing through in the final finish. However, this piece was gorgeous, thick, and solid compared to most french provincial pieces and I decided to take her home with me.

It sat for a bit in the studio while I worked on others......to be honest, I have had it since January, but about a month ago I had a new client show up at the studio, fall in love with it, and commission me to paint it for her home. After planning together, and lots of sanding and painting.....I can finally say that I am super happy with this piece and think it is one of my new favorites. This piece presented a few problem solving challenges {one of which I'll be sharing a little tutorial on soon} so it felt really good to complete it, and complete it well... with a feeling of solid satisfaction.

 One of the tricks that I will share with you is this.....I highly dislike primer, {I think you all knew that?} but because of all of the chipping paint that had to be sanded down until it was super smooth so as to not show up in the finish, and because I needed to cover up the yellow and gold finish that I did not want to show through....I  found that chalk paint is the perfect paint to use as a "primer"! I know that this is unfair because it is a great paint by itself as well, but it is also a really great "primer" since it sticks to anything and tends to have a smoothing effect. It also has great colors for showing through in the distressing, and tends to give a really nice faded look when sanded together with the latex. {I would like to add, that in my experience so far....chalk paint is a good primer underneath latex paints, but not so great under itself....or painted on top of latex. Painted over itself is fine but tricky, and over latex it gets "glumpy". Chalk paint works best as a virgin finish first and foremost.} Just a tidbit, from me to you....

Anywhoo.....hope you enjoy miss Ju Ju. I am thrilled with her results and glad that she will be in her new home this week!

I will have a saweet new gray/green chest in the etsy shop by the end of the week so be looking for her ...... and p.s.,  I finally came up with a solution for my studio planter boxes.....just wait till you see!! Hopefully Friday I will have that little project completed to show you...

Have a great day!

xo.

Barb

Etcetera

 To top off my trip to Lucketts I got to meet these three lovely ladies....who just make me smile from ear to ear! I love that all three paint furniture but yet each have their own unique style and personality....

It is so good for us creatives to meet.....embrace our differences and "alikes" {aka similarities}.....recharge our creative batteries...banter and carry on....yada, yada. I enjoyed every minute!

Please be sure to visit these lovely friends, check out their work, and say hello :

Miss Mustard Seed

Primitive and Proper

Vintage Before Beauty

Have a smashing weekend!
{I have some fun stuff coming up for next week!}

xo,

Barb

Found Goodness

Love this sign that I scored for 2.00. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to get a sharpie and instead of writing times....I wanted to write "all day, baby"....because we need to "enjoy it.....all day"!

The front side of my fantastic sign....and it will be hanging in the studio  from now on.

Vintage Pyrex Beakers. I have been "eyeing" these for a while, and I probably paid too much....but I really loved the simple dot, and the graphics....it was worth the wait.

These paintings caught my eye as soon as I saw them in the booth, and I loved them...but walked on by. In the end, they had me at hello...and my shelves at home are ever so glad to have some new artwork to add to the mix.

...here is a close up of the beautiful color, and if you would like to get some for yourself head on over to Bridgets Facebook page: Bridgetblocks

I also found the prettiest stack of plates. Two blue, and two pink which I promptly made cake stands out of....and wouldn't you know I had customers stopping by the studio this week wanting cake plates! Perfect timing!

I also found the perfect treat for the hubs...

..a street sign bearing his name...I totally flipped over this one.

Last....sadly, there was one.....that got away

I heart this "open" sign so much....but for 50 bucks..... I told myself it was too much..... only to frantically go back a bit later to purchase it! Unfortunately for me it had already been claimed. Boo Hoo!

All in all....Lucketts was a fantastic time....and even though I bought more for myself than for Knack ....it was fun to buy things for my own home.....for once!

xo,

Barb

Roomage

via decor8

 Imagine waking up to this piece of divine every day? In my opinion, this little slice of roomage is "epic"...and a well played move....by some obviously very talented color geniuses!

Chromaticity

flickr

I love this collection of painted rocks, and all of the soft and beautiful colors that were used....

...something like this would be perfect for adding some collected fun to your home....

...get those munchkins painting some bug rocks for you! :) ...

xo,

Barb

Introductions

First of all, I hope you all had a great weekend! I had a fantastic trip to Lucketts and also managed to squeeze in a midnight tour of the monuments in DC....it was fantastic! 

I will be showing you my Lucketts finds on Thursday! It was so fun to meet some of my blog friends even though it was crazy busy for them at the sale.....I think they had little left to sell on Sunday! I have never seen such buying frenzy! Stuff that I planned to go back for was gone before I could get back! Oh, well...I managed to find some neat momentos.......And....

......today I would like to introduce you all to "Gertie". I bought this piece at a yard sale, and it turned out to be the perfect size and shape that I needed for my daughters room redo! I love this little piece, and it has the perfect amount of storage for all of B's little treasures! 

I may still decide to add some sort of feet to this piece, but have not decided yet....so, until it hits me....this little Gertie is perfecto for now!

xo,

Barb

Etcetera

I have lots of little random tidbits for today's post, so hang on....I'll try to keep it interesting!

First, I have had a few emails about why there have not been any new Design Sponge posts, so I wanted to fill you all in. My contract with D*s was for one year, and that year was up May 1! I cannot believe a year went by that fast! It is so crazy how time flies! I enjoyed my year of writing , and it stretched me and grew me in ways I never even saw coming! Design Sponge is a fantastic platform, and I am so thankful for the experiences and opportunities that came my way. There are some really exciting things happening this summer including the first Design Sponge book, which will be launching soon {there is some Knack in it! woot!} and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I will be sure to let you all know the details as soon as I know them!

Second, I have an intern for the whole Summer! Double Woot! I was so excited when I got a phone call from one of the local colleges here in town asking about a possible internship with a creative business! I was like "shoot yeah" I would love to partake in that goodness! So, we went through the process of meeting, coming up with a plan, and I am happy to say that yesterday was miss Hattie's first day! What a day it was too...I broke her in really well! I got a phone call from a magazine {that I knew was courting a Knack story, and we had already done some initial work} in the morning, and they wanted to shoot the studio in the afternoon! How's that for a heads up?! The photographers are here for about four days, but due to my next tidbit to share, I had to be first on the docket...so, we became  crazy girls getting the studio ready for the shoot! I have to say that Hattie is worth her weight in gold after just one day! Girlfriend came up with vignettes while I wasn't even looking....didn't have to ask...she just did....and she was spot on. That my friends is awesomeness! It all came together beautifully, and the mag peeps flipped out about the studio...so here's to hoping we make the issue. I'll be sure to let you know! My last statement to Hattie before we walked out the door at the end of the day was "welcome to Knack studio....where we really mean it when we say "creative business"! Especially the creative part... Fun times....

Thirdly,  I am headed up the road today with my pal Lily! Road trip! We are headed to the Lucketts Spring Market to check out the goodness, and I am also looking forward to meeting some of my blog pals....Marian, and Cassie! I have been wanting to meet up with them for like ever....totally...so I am stoked!
They will both be selling at the market, and will be extremely busy, but we hope to get to hang out a bit and just enjoy finally meeting one another!

I am sooooo excited about road trippin' with my crazy girl and seeing what mischief we can get into! Fun times and crazy people just seem to gravitate to us when we are together, so it will be interesting to see what stories we will tell after this trip! We always say that one day we are going to write a book and fill it with all of our stories. Need to get to work on that.

I hope to have lots of photos to share next week, and I'll be posting photos to the Knack Facebook page along the way this weekend! 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

xo,

Barb

Found Goodness...

I have had my eye on one of these for a while.....and now my eye(s) will be on it every time I am in the studio....

I love, love, love my new wooden rolling shelves for lots of reasons, but the way they hold my fabric and plates makes me bananas!

xo,

Barb

Roomage

Today's roomage is an extra special one....because it is the newly "freshened" room of my 12 year old "B"! This past weekend B was away on her spring retreat and we went to town transforming her room from top to bottom. A few things stayed the same, but we changed the walls from blue to gray, added a chalkboard wall, new artwork {two of them are B originals: glasses, and three birdies}, new curtains, a new dresser, a new nightstand {transformed by Knack}, new light, new shelf above the dresser, and new sheets for the bed.

It was no small task...especially since we had about 48 hours to do it all. The hardest part was going through all of "B's" collections and piles of special"junk". B is a creative, and on top of being creative she is a pack rat....so getting lots of new storage  in order to organize her possessions was key for this redo. We are still going through the last three piles, but we have come so very far and it feels beyond good for everything to be fresh and new....and in its place.
 If you would like to see a few more shots, and the room before the freshen....visit Knack's facebook page.

How did she respond to the new look?

A picture's worth a thousand words right?

xo,
Barb

Chromaticity

Everything in my color world seems to be all about this peacock green color lately!  I think that this would be a great color for a little side table or even a large statement piece.....paired with some emerald blue or peach knobs. For real.

Valspar

 this color swatch jumped out at me the other day while getting some supplies at Lowe's, and I am really digging it. Thinking I may try it.....and on a different day,  I also picked up the very same color of fingernail polish as well....

sally beauty supply

...even my toenails have not escaped this latest color obsession!
Just be sure that peacock green is not confused with forest green.....they are two completely different animals.....completely.....I promise!

xo,
Barb

Introductions

Today I would like to introduce you to "Bertrand".

I'm feeling stripes lately and I promise this will not be the last you see of them..

...I love this vintage scalloped mirror that I have had for a while...wish I had photographed it sooner... but it looks perfect sitting on top of Bertrand...so all is good

My peonies are superstars, and the perfect finishing touch to soften the masculine lines of this piece..

...and I mean it when I say superstars....what gorgeous creations my Creator created....{try saying that three times in a row}....

...the top has some striped goodness...

...as well as the side....and the front

.... these bone knobs with their fluted shape add yet another element of softness...

....this shot in the studio makes my heart melt...and you also get a sneak peak of the gorgeous, and huge 9x12 rug I scored for 20.00.....yes that is twenty dollars!!... {don't hate}

...last but not least...the gray vintage modern paper finishes off the drawers to perfection....

...as you can tell by the many photos....I have much love for this "Bertrand" and feel inspired to no end to create more....and more... and more....

Bertrand is in the Etsy shop...feel free to visit him there.

xo,

Barb

Let's try this little DIY again....

The hubs and I installed a new mailbox a few months back, and there was a piece of 4x4 post left over.....so, I had an idea to turn these scraps into candle cubes. Crazy...I know...but here's how I did it:

1. Cut your 4x4 post into even portions using a saw. Disclaimer: Please use all safety precautions when operating a saw

2.Your blocks should look something like this when cut

3. Use a 7/8" drill bit to cut a circle in the top of your cube. This will need to be to the size of the candle, so measure accordingly. I just usually eye ball the center and go for it, but measure if you must!

4. Sand your cube until it is nice and smooth

5. I then taped off my cube in a striped pattern and painted away.

6. I also stamped the word "shine" on one of the cubes. Let your lights shine friends!

For the final step I sprayed a couple coats of lacquer on for extra protection....and there ya have it!

I had a friend walk in the studio, see these, and purchase them immediately.... so these guys are already taken but I will make more, so if you would like a set just let me know!


xo,
Barb

{It took me forever to get Blogger to upload these photos. I sure hope this gets fixed soon! If any of you have found any other solutions besides switching from old to new editor and buying more storage on picasa...let me know!}