Day 24: Happy Father's Day!

Hello! What a beautiful start to a busy weekend in Zionsville...garden tours, the Relay for Life and CruZionsville will all be happening in our burg this weekend. And, Sunday is Father's Day! Yea, a day to celebrate the men in our lives! It is a fun day at the Carpenter household -- homemade cards and fun presents from my crew to their daddy.

 

 

 

 

Since I lost my dad a few years ago, it is a bittersweet day for me. We try to talk about him but the kid's memories are starting to fade somewhat. I try to remind them of all the things that made him their Pa: his larger-than-life personality, his love of travel, his generosity and his love for all of us.

 

 

 

I love this picture of him because this is how I remember him -- loud and demonstrative and doing something crazy (riding a camel in the Sahara?).

 

You may have heard or read that our store is named in honor of my dad. For most of his life, he lived and worked at mile marker 530 on the Ohio River. We even founded the business on his birthday (December 12th).

 

Enjoy your time with the dads and the kids this weekend! And, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

 

Bye for now,

 

Erica

 

 

 



Day 23: It's been a long time!

Hello! Yes, it's been a while...like 6 weeks. Ooops. I got busy planning for two big events in our little 'ville and then the end of the school year hit us like a ton of bricks.

  

Here's what we've been up to...

 

On May 4th, the first Zionsville Flower and Herb Market came to Main Street:

 

 

It was so much fun and we can't wait for it to be a regular event!

 

Next came the annual Brick Street Market:

 

 

 

Outside the shop on Market Day...

 

 

The vendors on Main Street...

 

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by that day!

 

 

And, in the midst of that, we had 2nd Grade States' Fair...

 

 

This is a horrible picture of a wonderful event! All of the second graders are assigned a state (my guy got my home state of Kentucky). They do a parade through the school and then have a fair in the gym.

 

We also had 4th grade famous Hoosier wax museum...

 

 

 

Here's our own Rod Woodson doing his presentation!

 

And, finally, the graduate...

 

 

 

Wow, it was a busy month!! Now just, 2.5 days of school left until vacation! Yea! Hope you are enjoying the late Spring as much as we are...

 

Bye for now,

 

Erica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Day 22: the erica special

Hello! I've been MIA lately with Spring Break and getting back in the groove after Spring Break. 

 

 

 

But now, I'm back and I do solemnly swear to write more. I really, really do.

 

While I was relaxing in sunny Florida, the girls were busy in the store. One item they sold was this buffet...

 

 

We measured this piece for several people. People brought their husbands to see it. It was one of my faves! So many people asked about the finish, we gave it a name. It will now forever be known as the "Erica Special"! It is black with a rubbed antique gold and lovely (I guess if I created it and named it after myself, you know I like it).

 

Here's a close up...

 

 

...of a newly painted sofa table, Erica Special style.

 

Come in for a peek soon!!

 

Bye for now,

 

Erica

 

 



Day 21: what is the difference?

The question we are asked most: "What is the difference between milk paint and chalk paint?"

  

Let me say first that I have used what I think are the three most well-known brands of chalk paint: Annie Sloan, Cee Cee Caldwell and Maison Blanche. And, we carry Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in the store.

 

  Milk Paint is more unpredictable than chalk paint. The results you get from milk paint depend a great deal on the finish on the piece you are painting and the look you hope to achieve (basically, if you use bonding agent or not).

 

no bonding agent

 

 

with bonding, sanded edges

Here's a great side-by-side comparison of Annie Sloan's Arles with dark wax and Miss Mustard Seed's Mustard Seed with Antiquing Wax...

chalk paint with dark wax

 

 

milk paint with antiquing wax

Pretty similar, don't you think?

I use both milk paint and chalk paint (and latex and craft paint, for that matter!). I use milk paint more because I like to have samples of all the colors in the Miss Mustard Seed line in the store. 

 Of the chalk paints, I like Annie Sloan for regular painting. I love Cee Cee Caldwells for stencils. You can do either a dry or wet distress and it looks old and worn. Maison Blanche is great to create different patterns and more specialty painting.

The next time someone asks, I guess I'll have an answer!!

Bye for now,

Erica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Day 20: secretary

It was a fun day at fivethirty this morning. The ladies in the cottage nest craft class had a great time making their journals. And, it was nice to have some company on what I consider my Monday morning! It must have been contagious though because we have had lots of visitors on this cold, cold morning.

 

I'm pleased to share with you one of my favorite pieces we've redone. Here's a glimpse of the before (my husband likes to point out the flaws in furniture and he took this picture)...

 

 

 

 

And here she is now...

 

This was a project where I had a very specific vision and this is not it! We started with a creamy white and the nicotine bled through. Her previous owner played bridge and smoked (as evidenced by all the ashtrays and playing cards we found in the top drawer).

 

So, back to the drawing board. It was black for a while and I finally settled on the gray. I had this gray mixed up years ago as a custom color from porter paints and decided to use it on this piece. We used Miss Mustard Seed's antiquing wax and left some of the wood exposed (after cleaning and using hemp oil).

 

A couple of close ups...

 

 

 

 

 

I like her alot even though I'm a little disappointed I didn't end up with the original look. I'll save that for the next one!

 

 

Bye for now,

Erica

 

 

 

 



Day 19: milk paint as a stain

I can feel Spring in the air...can't you? Well, almost.

When I think of Spring, I start thinking about projects and I have a great idea for a couple chairs I've been saving for a rainy (Spring) day.

 

For a while, I have wanted to use Milk Paint as a stain on raw wood. So, on Tuesday, I grabbed one of our leftover paints and added a cup of water to it.

 

 

I purchased a raw wood bread board at Michael's ages ago, got out my cheapo foam brush and voila...

It soaked in beautifully and showed the wood grain quite nicely.

 

 

Now I want to get out all of my raw wood pieces and stain them! I think I'll do those chairs in ironstone or grain sack?

 

Bye for now,

 

Erica

 



Day 18: Hello, Susan (part II)

Hello! It was a very snowy and beautiful in Zionsville, Indiana today!

 

I got so carried away talking about Susan's painting classes, I ran out of room to tell about her and what she does at fivethirty...

Susan grew up on the north side of Indianapolis, attended IU and worked in public relations. She and her husband, Bill, still live on the north side of Indy. They travel to visit their three lovely daughters who have families of their own now.

Susan opened her furniture painting studio almost 14 years ago. She and her students have painted it all: glassware, clothing, furniture of all kinds, wall murals. You name it, Susan has painted it (or helped someone paint it).

 

 

 

We are so thrilled to have her painted pieces at fivethirty. She is also bringing in found accessory and art pieces. She travels to Michigan in the summer and brings truly unique pieces when she returns.

 

 

 

Stop in the store and see her on Friday in Zionsville or head to one of her paint classes in Broad Ripple.


Bye for Now,
Erica