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



 

 



Day 17: Hello, Susan (part I)

In 2004, I placed a bid at a silent auction fundraiser and as a result, met one of my all-time favorite people. The bid was for a free 2-hour furniture painting class and I won! The rest, as they say, is history. Well, it's my history...mine and Susan's, I guess.

 

I went in for my first class at the Susan Van Huss Design Studio armed with an old table I wanted to use for my kids' art table in the basement. I met Susan and the ladies and started painting.

 

I went back every Tuesday for the next 8 years.

 

I went back for the creative outlet, the friendship, the therapy...but Susan is at the heart of it. She teaches you how to paint furniture, sure, but has also created a haven for people to make something, to lend an ear or give a hug when someone needs it and to take time out of your life to do this thing you love. She has created a community and I am so lucky to be (a somewhat absentee) part of it.

 

I got a little carried away here, so I'll be back with more on Susan at fivethirty soon!

Bye for now,

Erica