Friday, March 28, 2014

Oooh....shiny!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS!

What a WHIRLWIND life has been around here!

I know you're itchin' for more details and photos from around the plantation,
and we PROMISE they will be coming soon

For now, though, I believe I owe you a little tutorial, right?

Want to make things sparkle and shine? 
How about a little gold or silver leaf...

 (actually comes in sheets...this is my pile of debris...but it is still SO pretty!)

Step one is to paint your piece (if desired) with the paint of your choosing and allow to dry
(I used Amy Howard at Home One Step in Palmer Pink)


Next up is applying Bole (pronounced like bull)
Historically, Bole was clay-based, and used to make the leaf really "POP"...
the color of Bole is dependent upon the type of leaf (silver, gold, etc) and the desired effect
(I did a project with Bole and a project without...both are lovely)

Keep in mind that some of your Bole color will inevitably show through the holidays 
(areas where there is no leaf), and the brownish red under gold is very authentic

 The Bole will look like the ugliest paint color ever...but fear not!

 it gets LOADS better, I promise!

 Once the Bole is dry, you'll want to apply Size
Size is what makes the leaf stick
so you'll want to be aware of your coverage

Sparse coverage will give you a sort of mottled effect
while more thorough coverage leads to more complete coverage with the leaf

When the Size is tacky 
(use your ring finger to test...does it resist and stick a bit?  Perfect!)
you can begin to apply the leaf

The leaf is sold in sheets, and for this project,
 I cut a portion down to size by cutting the entire book in half
(photo above shows the already-cut sheets)
I used these more narrow sheets for the smaller trim work,
 and used the full size sheets for the legs

You'll want to apply the leaf sheet directly onto the Size, 
and avoid touching it too much with your fingers

See the orange tissue sheets that separate the leaf in the photo above?
If you keep your leaf attached to the book,
you can use that tissue to burnish over the leaf with your finger

Once you place your leaf, burnish, and remove the tissue
you will want to smooth over the leaf with a fairly firm brush

 See the areas where the reddish Bole is peeking through the gold leaf?
Those are the holidays

After you're satisfied with the leaf application, you're ready to seal the finish with wax
Can I tell you how HAPPY this makes me? 
 Wax does NOT remove the leaf...
if you've used Liquid Leaf and some other gilding pastes, 
you'll know exactly what I mean


 Ta-Da~!
So fancy :0)  

On a completely unrelated note...
I had this genius idea to plant miniature rose bushes in my old paint cans...
I say "genius" in jest...because I kill plants
Also, by "plant" I mean I ripped them from their little containers and crammed them,
dirt and all, into the paint cans

By some miracle, they did NOT die...
(well, at least SOME didn't die!)
and the little rosebuds are shades of pale pink and magenta...amazing

Be BRAVE and try silver or gold leaf...it's messy, its fun, and it's GORGEOUS!

M~

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Patina

We can't share too much about the plantation just yet...
but we did want to share our experience there with you

We're suckers for original paint and patina..
so you can imagine the beauty of age surrounding us there

Most of the plantation has been restored to it's former glory,
but the owner acknowledged the need to preserve some of the patina
and the mix of fresh and old is stunning

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...
so we'll shut up now











Thanks for following along!

Kenny and Michele

Friday, March 7, 2014

Southern Charm

Gosh, what a whirlwind life has been for us these past two weeks!

On our way to Memphis to train with Amy and Gene Howard,
we stopped off at Real Milk Paint Company to meet Dwayne

He and Kenny hit if off immediately and talked all evening 
about paint and trucks...ha~!

While there, we got to see three of our four new milk paint colors!


We stopped by City Farmhouse on the way to Memphis, 
and Sweet South Cottage and Farms on the way home 
(pics in another post, I promise!)

We shared some of our experience at Amy Howard at Home with you earlier this week
Hope to see these folks again really soon!


Sunday, March 2, 2014

Amy Howard Home, Day One

HOLY COW!
Can't believe it's been TWO WEEKS since we posted!

Here's why:

We traveled to Memphis, TN
to attend Amy Howard University

Along the way, we made deliveries to clients in AL and Nashville
(so fun meeting our clients and seeing where the pieces are going to end up!)
and on the way home, we spent the night at a
 GORGEOUS plantation in S. Georgia
(more on that later this week!)

We rolled in to Memphis late Sunday night,
 and arrived early for class on Monday morning
desperately in need of a decent cup of coffee...
all this food was a lovely BONUS

Amy Howard Home was all about the famous "Southern Hospitality!"

We spent three days with Amy, her husband Gene, and the rest of the crew

Inspiration was literally EVERYWHERE we looked...




all I wanted to do was dip into each and every color on the shelves!


Soon enough, we were playing in the paint, um I mean learning all about the paint

 Mrs. Howard...finish expert, business woman extraordinaire, and all-around really nice person!


 Clearly, Kenny is enjoying himself!


 Silver and Gold leaf over One Step Paint

Kenny's first time using Dust of Ages...I think he's a convert now, too!

 a banquet of COLOR!

 Gene Howard, Amy's husband...such a great guy, cool as a cucumber
(Gene, we went to Commissary on our way home and you were so RIGHT...it was amazing!)


I love this photo of Meg from MegMade
The expression on her face says it all...downright delighted! 

Tomorrow, days two and three of class and some Memphis sights and sounds

Thanks for stopping by!

Michele