The Studio at 3 Oaks - A Creative Journey

Reloved Rubbish: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at Loot!

2012-02-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

Reloved Rubbish: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at Loot!: Nancy and I are happy to be new retail partners of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! We are now stocking all 29 colors of Chalk Paint and waxes...

freckled laundry: chalk paint counter top q&a and tour

2012-02-21T00:08:00.001-08:00

I ran across this blog tonight about using ASCP on countertops! Thought it was well worth sharing!

freckled laundry: chalk paint counter top q&a and tour: Happy Saturday to you. Some of you have emailed me about my counter tops and cabinets painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, urging me to sp...

2012-01-31T20:53:00.000-08:00

Hi all! It has been forever it seems like since I've posted...my apologies but I have been swamped, in a good way. The DIY business is booming. People are ready to change their world with color, design and paint! And the color of the year is going to be Barcelona Orange, but that isn't what I'm blogging on today...I will save that for another day. Today I have a post from a customer, a lovely lady who came in for a one on one workshop with me so she could transform her tired cabinets into something she wanted to see each morning! Take a look............. these are the cabinets before...not bad shape....tile was in good shape...but dated, right? Scroll down

These are her cabinets now......certainly brightened up the room, dont you think? This is what she had to say..

Vicki
I finished my kitchen cabinets, they turned out great! My kitchen looks so much brighter, cleaner and updated. Thank you for taking the extra time with me to match my paint to my tile it made such a difference. I cannot wait to start my next projects; bathroom cabinets, various furniture items etc., etc.
I am looking forward to taking more classes. I attached before and after photos so you could see....:)

Thanks
Kathleen

So what did she use? Annie Sloan Chalk Paint..She mixed one can of Old White and One Can of Coco....seriously...one can each...that is two cans of paint people!! She used clear wax and then mixed some clear and dark to go around the edges to add some interest.

What are you waiting for? Tomorrow morning when you wake up and go into your kitchen, take a look....want to make a change? Let's talk! I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to help you!

In fact, I'm doing just that on Friday ....helping a young lady get started on her kitchen. She has put it off for over a year and now she is ready but doesn't know how to get started...so I'm off to paint with her for the day and then she will finish it up!

Yes, in addition to teaching how to do it, I can also come and help you get started! What a deal!

Until next time, and I promise it will be sooner, keep painting outside the lines!

Vicki

Paint Stuck Under My Fingernails: Let's focus on the facts

2012-01-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

Paint Stuck Under My Fingernails: Let's focus on the facts

The Studio at 3 Oaks - A Creative Journey: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Give Away!

2011-12-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

The Studio at 3 Oaks - A Creative Journey: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Give Away!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Give Away!

2011-12-05T23:37:00.001-08:00

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Tour & Give Away!!

Annie Sloan is coming to the USA and we are celebrating in a big way! We are spreading the news and some holiday cheer by announcing this fantastic give away!Enter to win one of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Holiday Baskets given away by over 100 Stockists across North America. Each basket includes two fabulous pots of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, one each of clear and dark wax, and Annie's Quick and Easy Paint Transformations book.
Plus more!!
In addition to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint give away, a lucky winner of the holiday basket from each shop across North America will be entered for a chance to win a $350 gift certificate from Annie Sloan Unfolded. It is good toward your choice of a credit on your Annie Sloan Tour registration fee or $350 in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! The big winner will be announced on Annie's blog on January 10, 2012.Excited yet? Here is how to get started:

Become a follower of our blog and leave a comment.
Become a follower of Annie Sloan's blog www.anniesloans.blogspot.com and comment with "American Tour 2012".
Follow us on Facebook and leave us a comment there!
For two additional chances of winning the fabulous basket, visit Flea Market Divas at A Secret Garden in Clovis and drop your name in the basket near the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint display and sign up for the 3 Oaks Studio newsletter on www.3OaksStudio.com.

There is no purchase necessary to win. Visit www.anniesloanunfolded.com for full contest details.

Good luck!!

I will post the winner of our basket on December 23rd!

Keep painting outside the lines!

Vicki

2011-11-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

I love to share what customers are doing. I had a customer yesterday at the Fresno Home Show who purchased product and this is what her daughter sent me this morning. She did this in less than a day! I love the design of the stencil on the tabletop and the moosh and smoosh she did with her paint.

All products come from the Caromal Colours Country Living Artisans Collection.

What have you given new life to lately? I would love to share it!

2011-10-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of the year and my favorite way to decorate for fall!

Gilded and painted pumpkins and gourds!

So much fun!

We will be demonstrating this and more at the Fresno Home & Decorating Show November 4,5, and 6th.

Until then, you will find me in the studio,out and about taking care of all the mini stockists in northern CA and setting up for the upcoming weddings on the property each weekend!

Watch for info on the very cool retail space in Clovis that I will be teaming up with to sell the Annie Sloan Chalk paint and have workshops and demos in their wonderful garden!

Coming in the next couple of weeks!

2 Sample Jars to give away to????

2011-08-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/3-Oaks-Studio/173892494568

We are almost at 200 'likes' on our Facebook page...as soon as we hit 200 I will randomly pick one person who hits like on our Facebook page and who follows and posts a comment here. That lucky person will get their color choice of 2 sample jars (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint). When we hit 500 there is something GRAND in store for one very lucky person in northern CA and a few of her/his friends! Don't be shy - let's get this party started!

A daughter's creative journey

2011-08-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

www.thesweetstable.blogspot.com

This is my daughter Carissa and this is her blog - The Sweets Table. This is her dream and her passion, and has been for awhile. While my happy place is in the studio painting on anything that will stand still long enough, hers is in the kitchen, baking and creating oh so delicious desserts that make my pants keep shrinking!

So yesterday, she was helping me in the studio as she does every week. This is a job of hers...she tries, and I emphasize TRIES to keep me organized. This is an impossible task, but she is determined that I can be, so she keeps trying. She was helping and (Barbara) The Shabby Cowgirl came in to talk about some aprons.. Have you met The Shabby Cowgirl? You must! Go to her Facebook page and hit like! You meet some wonderful people on Facebook! Not only does she make the most wonderful aprons in the world, but she is a warm, wonderful person to boot! Anyway, we were having a nice chat and the subject came up of doing what you love, following your heart, working your passion and just going ahead and DOING it instead of how most people just talk about doing it! Barbara had the most wonderful words of wisdom to share with Carissa about all these things, and it really stuck with her. Read her blog post. She listened. She got it. She had heard it before but it is different when it isn't coming out of your mother or father's mouth! Thank you Barbara! This is my daughter's creative journey and I feel very blessed to be here at the beginning of this new adventure of hers! Would I be dating myself so much if I just said YOU GO GIRL!

The Annie Sloan Color Wheel of Paint

2011-08-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

I loved the picket fence that Anne, southern CA Stockist, made from old fence pieces, painting each one in an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint color. We used it at the 3 Speckled Hens show in Paso Robles and it drew a crowd. I think we should keep this a CA tradition so I decided to do my own version and will be exhibiting this at the next show in Los Gatos - The Goat Hill Fair, September 17th and 18th....mark your calendars...going to be a blast. As you can see I am including four unpainted pickets, just waiting to get covered in the newest colors - Pure White, Coco, French Linen and going to be my new fave - Barcelona Orange....can't wait to get my hands on that one!! My adirondack chairs don't know what is in store for them.

Stay tuned later for a new giveaway that I will be starting...for all my northern CA friends and chalkaholics! Watch this blog for info on it later this week....gonna be GREAT!!!

In the meantime, keep painting outside the lines!

Vicki

Annie Sloan Wax Questions and Answers

2011-08-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

I get questions every day from customers and students so I thought I would, from time to time, list some of them here with answers....

Question: My wax still feels sticky. Did I do something wrong?

Answer: I am including an answer to this question posted on Annie Sloan Paint's facebook page. This was in response to a question about the wax used in the Texas heat and does apply to any other place you live:

Annie Sloan:

Where the wax had smudged after you had it outside, I would just polish it up again. The other piece you talk about where it wouldn't sand properly is because you have applied far too much and not removed the excess. The way to use the wax is to apply a FINE amount. I usually apply it and wipe off - applying a reasonable amount of pressure to make certain I have removed the excess. Otherwise you are sanding wet wax.

Other questions about wax:

Question: I used the dark wax and my chair is darker than I wanted. I wiped it back but it is still dark. Why?

Answer: Always use the clear wax first. Number one and pretty much the only rule with using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and wax. There are exceptions to this rule, but those are for another time. The clear wax will seal the paint and then you can start applying the dark wax sparingly at first, to get that rich patina.

Question: Do I have to use the Annie Sloan wax? I have some other wax at home. Can I just use that?
Answer: I have used different waxes and in fact sell a couple different waxes in the shop. What I have found is that Annie's wax really does work WITH the paint. It works it's way into the paint to seal it. Other wax seems to lay ON the surface of the paint. This could definitely make a difference in the final finish and the way the piece wears.

Question: I painted and waxed my piece. Now I want to change the color. What do I use to take off the wax so I can repaint?
Answer: When using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, you can paint right OVER the wax. You don't have to take it off! This is girls paint but boys can use it too is what Annie says. That means you can change your mind, time after time.
The tables shown above have been painted AND waxed three times. I didn't quite like them the first two times around so I painted right over the top!

Now a little tip that I like to share in my workshops - in the picture shown, you will see the table tops have been stenciled. This was done with the dark wax. I love how stenciling with the dark wax gives a more antique look to the stencil.

Have any questions of your own?

Keep painting outside the lines...it's more fun that way!

Caromal Colours Reclaim Counter

2011-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you all about the new Reclaim Paint from Caromal Colours. I used this to restyle the "check out" table in my studio....and I promised you an honest critique.....

I loved it!! This is a paint for someone who doesn't want anything fancy, just a wonderful finish to cover up what you don't like - it can be glazed or not, and distressed lightly or not - your choice. I chose to glaze lightly over the body of the table just around the perimeter to give it some depth and some more style since the table itself is pretty plain. Then to further enhance it, I added one of the stencils from the Caromal Colours line of sticky back stencils...another thing that is oh so easy to work with.

Body of table - done in Off White Reclaim - rolled on with the roller in the Reclaim Paint Tool Kit. At first I didn't like this roller, thinking the nap was too long, but I used it on the body, and it turned out as smooth as the top. This took two coats as I had previously painted and stenciled polka dots on it which wanted to peak through! I will say my daughter was 'not pleased' I had covered up the polka dots, but change is good, right?

The top was painted in Mocha Reclaim and I used a foam roller...I was surprised that this did not provide a smoother finish than the roller I used on the body....go figure! Both body and top are smooth to the touch with just a hint of texture. After all if you are looking for a glass finish, you will have to pay someone to spray it for you (not Reclaim) and then you will have a table that looks like everyone elses, right? To continue, I lightly sanded just the edges for a distressed look and voila!
This is getting continued use in the studio and I will be checking back with you in a few months with an update how it is holding up, but for the last month and a half, it is solid. It gets banged, written on, and pretty much abused and it looks great.

My final critique? So well worth it for an easy update! Beautiful, easy to apply for a novice, and great colors that can be tweaked or combined to make new colors!

Roll it on, and when I say roll, I mean in every which direction...You don't stay with the grain!
Moosh it on in the corners and edges
NO SANDING, NO STRIPPING, NO PRIMING!
No protective top coat needed - has sealer BUILT IN!!

I have all the ReClaim colors as well as the stencils at the studio...come by and take a look! Available in the following colors - Licorice, Mocha, Off White, Bright White, Latte and Sage.

ReClaim Licorice & Mocha
right sides have Antiquing Glaze
left sides just paint!

ReClaim Bright White & Sage
right side has Antiquing Glaze
left side is just paint

ReClaim Latte & Off White
right side has Antiquing Glaze
left side is paint

Nana's Birthday Table

2011-08-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Nana's new birthday table

Crackled top

Sometimes finding great pieces of furniture to restore, repaint or restyle is especially super sweet, like this table I scooped up for $20. It was solid oak and heavy, but dirty, split and needed some serious TLC when I found it but I knew it was just the table that my mother in law would love to put behind her sofa. Seeing the possibility of what could be instead of what was staring me in the face, I packed it up and took it home. My mother in law had been asking for a sofa table for some time, but it had to be strong enough that her rambunctious cat would not knock over. This was the one. Knowing her love for soft pastel colors, and blue, which is the color of her eyes, this piece immediately spoke to me and I started in. The next day, voila - she was done! I love this part of my job! When I can make a present that is special just for that one person, and she loves it so much, she tears up.....that is what gives me a lot of joy! I love this job! Today is my mother in law's 88th birthday! Happy Birthday Nana!

Oh, and the before??? Yuck - here it is in all it's yuckiness

What did I use? Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The top is done in the Crackled finish (Old White) , one of my favorite techniques that I teach in the Annie Sloan workshop, and the bottom is a mixture of Louis Blue with a bit of Old White, clear and dark wax, and just a bit of colored wax over the top to lighten it up even more.

See what you can do with a piece of junk?

Have more to talk about, but for now, a little time with the hubby is called for. I look forward to your posts and pictures.

Keep painting! Vicki

New Sample Pot Information!

2011-07-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

Introductory pricing for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Sample Pots will be ending July 31st!

New price will be $10.75. What an awesome way to try out a new, fun Annie Sloan color that you might be unsure about!

Come in today and pick up your favorite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint color....or try a new one!

One very busy customer!!

2011-07-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

I know, I know - it has been forever since I blogged. I have been absent from the computer to blog...we have been so unbelievably busy, which is a good thing, but then it means I seldom have the energy at night to sit at the computer to say anything! And even though I have the most understanding husband in the world, he still likes my company from time to time!

But I really wanted to show you what I received from a wonderful customer of mine. She has been quite busy redoing her mom's apartment, using the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint almost everywhere it seems! Take a look at some of the furniture and accessory pieces she painted! Way to go Sunny! And thank you so much for sharing with me, so I could share with others. I get so much inspiration from what everyone is doing with the paint, and I'm sure others do too! Do you have some pictures you would like to share with me so I can share with others?

" I love the paint and wax! It made the pieces look so much better than they ever would have looked without it! Pictures don't always do justice to how amazing the furniture looks after using this product. Have a wonderful week!" Sunny

And you all have a wonderful week. I will be back with pictures of our first Paint 'N'The Wine Country Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop later this week as well as some pictures of the Caromal Colours Reclaim paint which I used on my check out table in the studio - an honest critique about an amazing new product.

July Special coming in a few days....

2011-06-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

Thought I would tweak your interest just a bit these last few days of June. I will have a July special starting Friday for ......??? Here is a hint - can you guess?

Introducing New Annie Sloan Chalk Paint stockists!

2011-06-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

June has been an exciting month so far. I have brought on two new Mini Stockists (mini? Maxi talent and enthusiasm!) to help in CA, and more are needed and wanted, so don't be shy! Now is a great time to get involved!

Drum roll now.......

Meet Tami! The newest member of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint family. She lives in Fairfield, CA and is SUPER excited to start sharing Annie Sloan Chalk Paint with everyone in the Fairfield, Sacramento area. She is soon going to be selling out of a shop and I will share that info as soon as it is settled. She is also working on putting together her first workshop either later this month or early next month. This is a great way to get introduced to this so contact her if you are interested. In the meantime here is her info:

Tami Fandrei

Patina Decorative Finishes

tami@patinadecorativefinishes.com

707-372-8162

Also new to the Chalk Paint family...I am excited to be working with Gay and her daughter-in-law, Monica who will be serving the Visalia, Exeter area and areas surrounding those cities. They plan to feature the chalk paint line at a shop in Exeter, so be looking for that. In the meantime, here is their contact info:

Gay and Monica

Embellish & Design

559-804-7411

baghull@yahoo.com

So many wonderful people joining in on the fun....I am so excited to be working with these fabulous ladies and can't wait to see what they come up with!

Tomorrow I'm back at the studio getting ready for Glitz in the Garden on Friday night. 3 Oaks Studio is part of Boutique Row at this fundraiser, so I'm putting on paint and a bit of glitz on some furniture pieces and doing a bit of barn worn aged look on another piece....a little gilding, a little paint, and tons of fun!!

Still painting outside the lines!!! and lovin it! Vicki

Why I do What I do

2011-06-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I painted all day in Kingsburg at the home of a wonderful young couple. He had purchased a gift certificate for his wife for their anniversary to go towards a day of my time. She wanted to paint their kitchen cabinets, but needed a little boost to get going. He took the two small kids for the weekend and yesterday morning she and I got to work....and work we did - 9 hours straight, but talked, and laughed, and had a great time. I made sure she knew all the steps of what she needed to do before I left and we got a good chunk of it done, so she was well on her way. When it came time for me to leave, she teared up and said how much this meant to her; that with all she has on her plate now, family, small children, school, etc., she rarely did anything for her. She had wanted to do this for so long and she was so excited it was getting done now. This is why I do what I do - to be able to help people make their surroundings, their homes, their lives a little more of how they want it to be, more colorful, more beautiful, help them discover their inner creativity - I consider this such a blessing and I left feeling like I had done a good day's work and I wouldn't want to do anything else but this!!! So today, no pictures, no before and afters, (although I can't wait to see her after photos) - just a small story of how the little things in life can make such a huge difference. Enjoy your day with all that it brings. Back to the studio I go - Vicki

The first Wine Country Event!

2011-06-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

The word is out! Call the studio or secure your seat online as space is limited and this is going to be fun!!
Painting in wine country - awesome!

Another wedding!

2011-06-14T00:36:00.000-07:00

The studio after the feast and caterers had boogied out of there!

The pink parasols during the ceremony! Gorgeous!

View from the arbor area

We had another wedding on the property Saturday evening, and it was gorgeous. The bride had provided all the ladies with hot pink parasols to help keep the sun off them during the ceremony and it added a splash of color against the green of the vineyard and yard. Then I thought I would get a picture of the buffet setup after dinner was completed....oops waited too long. I went into the studio and there was nothing left!

What does all this have to do with a creative journey which is what my blog is about? Well, this is part of our creative journey, and while I was walking through the vineyard the other morning, I realized that what my hubby and I have and are continuing to create here will live on for generations in family after family - the couples that get married here will have pictures on their walls and in their albums of our home. They will be talking about their wedding day with their children. When they pass on, their children and grandchildren will be looking through their albums seeing our creation here at 3 Oaks....what a blessing this is! I absolutely love be able to do this and feel very blessed to be a part of all these weddings and special events that are taking place and will take place here.

Creativity can be expressed in many different ways. This is one way my hubby and I express our creativity collectively and I love it!

A Bathroom Redo with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and other things!

2011-06-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

I take my granddaughters with me whenever I do a show. This is Faith and Hadley at the 3 Speckled Hens show in Paso Robles a couple of weeks ago. They really live on the east coast, so their little faces are with me in the studio or at any given show. That way I can show them they are with me all the time!

What a great time Anne and I had at the show........ and then I woke up on Monday to come home and had the flu! Yuck! I was in the hotel room and all I wanted was my own bed! But I did make it home that day, and the next weekend we had a wedding at our place which meant the studio had to be cleaned out for the buffet, and several projects had to be completed before the weekend.....no rest for the weary!

So I realize I have been AWOL for over a week. After the 3 Speckled Hens Show, which was a blast by the way, I hit the ground running here and haven't stopped until today! We have had orders to fill and emails to reply to and orders to fill....did I mention orders to fill? And the phone calls! And two new mini stockists have come on board - I will introduce them in the next couple of weeks and then send out a newsletter letting you all know where they can be found!

I received these pictures today in my email from a customer who redid her bathroom in Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint and Clear Wax. What a change! What a difference a day makes!

I LOVE getting pictures of your transformations! Send them to me and I will post here so others can be inspired by your creativity.

If you use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and love what you have done, share it!

If you have used Caromal Colours and love what you have done, share that!

Tell me what you liked about the paint, and what it has meant in your home!

I'm thinking of a great giveaway....what would you like to get?

Now we are prepping for wedding # 2 this year - day after tomorrow! and the studio is getting another cleanout! I will post pictures of the studio all set up for the buffet after this weekend.

There is something so special about being a part of a happy couple's special day and to think that what we have created here will live on in pictures in their families for generations...makes my heart warm! I love doing this!

Until next time, keep the paint flyin and keep smilin! Vicki

Annie Sloan Redo

2011-05-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, these are the tables I painted yesterday and posted...well this morning I went into the studio and decided I didn't really like the graphite tops so I just switched out the colors. The tops are the colors that the stencil was and the stencil is now graphite (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) I painted right over the wax and about 30 minutes later the new tops were done! Better?

Here is another find I had gotten earlier this month...this was shown in one of my first posts along with a lot of other "junque" found in a backyard here locally. Since we do weddings on our property, I thought this might be a good addition to our "stash". I'm going to take it with me to the 3 Speckled Hens Show this weekend and use it as a checkout table. The stencil? Annie Sloan Rustic wax....just paint and wax - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Caromal Colours self stick stencil.

Have to get some orders made up tonight and then zzzzzzzzzzzz

Something different

2011-05-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

Thought I would do something just a bit different on this set of 3 little tables I picked up for cheap on Craigslist. Don't you LOVE Craigslist?

This is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Provence, Scandinavian Pink and Arles over Graphite with Graphite tops and self stick stencil from Caromal Colours. Not sure these are my style, but that is something that is so cool about the chalk paint - if I don't like it I can go right back over the top of it again, wax and all! What do you think? You like them or not? Don't worry - you won't hurt my feelings....I just wanted some feedback. I look at them and like them, and then I take another look and not so much. I can't decide!

And remember that sweet little table I painted in Duck Egg Blue with gold gilding....well I decided it was too much bling for my taste. I went over the gilding with Old White, wiped it back - NO SANDING, and applied more dark wax on it. Now I like it better!

I've had a lot of people asking about my workshop schedule. Tomorrow I will post the summer schedule. But for tonight - it is sleep that is beckoning me.

Keep painting outside the lines and remember to Moosh and Smoosh!

Vicki

An Annie SLoan Kitchen Redo!

2011-05-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

This was taken from the blog of my fellow CA stockist, Anne Skougard in Canyon Lake, down south. One of her customers recently transformed her kitchen using the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and I wanted to share with you the pictures so you can see Yes, it CAN be used on cabinets!!

Wow, what a beautiful job and transformation! Kay used Cream, Old White and Old Ochre plus Golden SDFA. Two coats on 60 linear feet of cabinetry including boxes and island base, 27 doors back and front and 16 drawer fronts. Kay used 3.25 quarts of paint....AMAZING!

So ready to do a project for yourself? Give me a call. Orders are going out 3 days a week!

Until next time, keep painting outside the lines! It's way more fun!! Vicki

2011-05-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and in honor of that day I would like to share a couple of pictures of my mother, Margie....the first is her high school senior picture back in 19....oh dear..probably 42..? And the other one is one of her about 10 or so years ago when my mom, my dad, my brother and I were all under the same roof for the first time in 20+ years. That was a great time! My mom passed away about 4 years ago, but her memory lives on....some of it good, some not so good, but she was my mom and she did her best and I love her for that. She was the one who taught me how to draw early on and bought me crayons when I was a little girl, showing me how to draw hands on my people and feet....so hard when you are 6! Later in life she tried her hand at oil painting, and was quite good, but then arthritis set in and she couldn't hold the paint brush any longer. She did like my work though and had some pieces in her home for many years. So here is to you mom and all the mothers out there - have a wonderful Mother's Day! May you have many more with your children!

Until next week - keep painting outside the lines! Vicki

A Good Day!

2011-05-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

So today, I went to pick up a wee little ladder that I saw on Craigslist and when I got to the backyard where it was, the young lady who showed up just after me scooped it up! But I didn't go away empty handed....sometimes life hands you unexpected surprises! And the young lady? She has a shop so I gave her my card! I told her I know just what she needs to turn all this junk into treasures!

Wait till you see the after pictures! It shouldn't take long, they all just need to talk to me and so far, the ladder spoke and I listened. Tomorrow I'm thinking that little rocker is going to start looking a lot more fun that it does now.

Till next time! Remember to keep coloring outside the lines!

Vicki

Quality time in the studio with Carissa and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!

2011-04-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Today I had some quality time in the studio with my daughter, Carissa and Annie Sloan Chalk paint! It seems I never get a whole day to just paint and enjoy being with Carissa, so today I did just that! Thought I would share a few pictures of today's projects and a little bit more....

-"The Blues" Different techniques and shades of blue from the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint line....love the crackle, and the color over color....what am I saying....I love them all!

This is a view from the studio to the vineyard....so peaceful! In front of window is another view of table just finished with Paris Grey crackled and gilded, and an old brass lamp done in the Caromal Colours parchment color with a stenciled lampshade.

Carissa hard at work on an old chest of drawers that had seen better days. When the knobs go on I'll post the finished pictures. Funny thing is she NEVER liked to paint before, but Annie Sloan Chalk Paint has changed her mind!

A small little table I picked up from Craigslist and did in an afternoon (to be sold) ...don't think I had a before picture of it....didn't have the heart to tell the lady I bought it from I was going to paint right over her newly varnished table top! This is Duck Egg Blue with gold leafing.

These are the sweet little boxes Carissa was working on today to give as a Mother's Day present to her mother-in-law. How lucky she is! Hope she isn't reading this!!

Just so you understand the salutation....moosh and smoosh is a term I say a lot when teaching with the Caromal Colours Country Living Artisans Collection, since you don't paint it, you simply moosh and smoosh the paint on! Now with Annie Sloan it is a bit different, you paint, but you moosh and smoosh the wax on! Gotta love it! So now you know!

Chalk It Up!!

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These are the color sample boards for the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on the studio wall....at least the 1st 18 of them! I am waiting to get the other 6 up on the wall. I found these frames at Michaels for cheap...thought it was a great way to show the colors and with the wax as well.

An Annie Sloan Chalk Paint sample board done in Old White with a stencil done in the Rustic Wax....nothin but paint and wax!

Table - before - It had massive water damage and we took the belt sander to it and smoothed out the top the best we could.....pressboard - yuck!

This is the top of the table after painting with the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and I added a bit of bling to it around the edges with some gold leafing from Caromal Colours. I love how the Chalk Paint crackles almost immediately when you dry it with a hair dryer.

Now my hubby says he wishes the other furniture in the barn would start talking to me since I told him a piece has to "speak" to me before I start painting it! Wait till you see what I scored from my cabinet maker friend! Alas, he is moving to Oregon, but almost GAVE me two beautiful antique buffets which he already stripped. Those are going to have to wait until after the 3 Speckled Hens show before I tackle those. In the meantime, I have lots of smaller projects needing my attention in addition to a Distressed 4 Success workshop on May 14th....I have a seat left if you are interested!

Hello! Let me introduce myself...

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I'm Vicki and this is 3 Oaks Studio. I invite you to join me in a creative journey where we refresh, repaint and repurpose using the best DIY materials on the market today! Around here you will notice if it stands still long enough, it either gets painted, gilded, stenciled or all of the above.

This is a view from the studio porch. Now you can see one reason why this is my happy place! The vineyard is Steve's happy place (hubby) and those chairs are where you will find us a lot at dusk watching the sunset with a glass of wine and sometimes crackers and cheese. You are always welcome to join us!

Until next time.....