The greatest new trends in paint and how they can save a life, literally.  

(Please note this contains an affiliate link by which This Place I Belong can profit. However, I never recommend a product I don’t believe in.)

I almost walked on by. The display booth was stunning but it was obviously a specialty paint booth and to be honest, I just wasn’t that interested. 

I use paint, a lot, and I’ve tried most of them. I’ve used latex, enamel, spray paint, milk paint and a whole host of chalk paints, from Annie Sloan to the stuff you mix yourself by adding powder to latex. I just didn’t really think anything in the paint world could surprise or impress me. 

Boy, was I wrong! 

First, I noticed the intricate designs painted on signs, pillows, bags and even drinking glasses. It turns out that all of those designs were stencils! These aren’t your ordinary stencil designs. These had so much intricate detail. I just could not fathom how they could get those looks with a stencil. 

If you’ve used stencils, you know they are usually designs cut in mylar. Even when they are carefully applied with spray adhesive and dappled on with a stencil brush, paint can tend to bleed around the edges, especially with more intricate designs. These were different. The designs had minute details and even the finest of lines were crisp and true. 

Yes. It’s a stencil!

Now they had my interest! 

I waited for an opportunity to talk with the lady who seemed to be in charge. That lady was Amy Howard, of Amy Howard Home and she was launching her newest business,  A Maker’s Studio. 

“For the last 20 years, Amy Howard Home grew from leading the interior design market by restoring and building luxury home furnishings, to providing makers with a distinguished class of artisan-quality paint products and training.” 

Amy says the thing that set her furniture apart and allowed her to command high prices was the finishes. So when she talked about this new line of products I listened. 

Visiting with Amy

I was captivated by the new stain/sealer she’s developed. With it you can change the color of wood in a single step. No sanding and no sealing. This product will do it all. I’ve spent hours stripping, sanding and refinishing wood. This could be a game changer!

She showed me the quality paint tools available and talked about the dyes she’ll release in the coming weeks. With them you can stencil and remake upholstery! What?? My head was spinning. 

She reached for a pillow cover.  She had applied gold leave to the cover, using one of her stencils. Just beautiful!

Pillow with copper leaf

When she opened a sample jar of her Chalkart paint it was thick and creamy, kind of like pudding and I’d honestly never seen anything quite like it. She explained that it’s used with the stencils and a little scraper kind of tool. A little goes a long, long way. If you don’t seal it, it’s fully washable, allowing creative people to easily change their decor with the seasons. 

If you want something more permanent, she has a paint for that as well. It’s called Rescue and Restore Paint.

Then, there was the thing that grabbed my attention in the first place.  Amy removed a stencil from it’s package. The thin, silky stencil was akin to silk screening. The stencil comes with an adhesive back, making it easy to apply and use. It’s washable and re-usable up to 30 times. Amazing! I’d never seen anything like this and I could not wait to try it. 

Fortunately, she was giving a workshop where I’d be able to get my hands dirty and actually try the Chalkart paint and the silk stencils. 

Can you see how the stencil is a very thin mesh? You can see through the parts that will allow the paint through.

And guess what?! On August 23rd, you have an opportunity to try the products as well. Amy is organizing virtual and live gatherings for people to create and fellowship together. I love that idea! August 23rd she’ll feature the Farmhouse Chic kit. Be sure to check it out!

If you’re in my area and interested in doing this, let me know. We’ll gather at my house. I’ll provide the wine and cheese!

Farmhouse Chic

Ok. Now that I’ve shared that, it’s back to the story.

At the appointed time, my roommate and I made our way to Amy’s workshop. We listened while she talked about the products and watched as she demonstrated their use then we worked on our own little projects. 

When Amy talked about the opportunity to sell these products, I was intrigued. Because the nearest Annie Sloan retailer is over an hour and a half away, I’ve been considering partnering with a chalk paint manufacturer to carry their products. This product line offered great paint and so much more. 

Then she started talking about her real passions, about the things that drive her. She shared her passion for mentoring and helping women, for using the products to help people relieve stress, connect with others and build community. 

She talked about the vision of the company.  “A Makers’ Studio empowers the modern creative woman to make a difference in homes and hearts. Our mission is to support her with in-depth education, unique projects, and meaningful work as she leads her community in crafting a beautiful life.” 

I loved her heart! Making a difference in homes and hearts sounded a lot like creating beauty in space and finding beauty in relationships, the mission of this blog. 

That might have been enough to sell me, but when Amy shared her vision of using proceeds from A Maker’s Studio to raise millions of dollars to combat human trafficking, time stood still. 

Suddenly, I was back in Colorado, at our local county fair, near one year ago. I was visiting with another mom.  She often has foster kids and has even adopted a couple. I inquired about the two little girls she had in tow. I had never met them. She explained that they were foster kids, rescued from a sex trafficking ring that operates out of a nearby city. I don’t remember for sure but I think the girls were 2 and 5 years old at the time. 

In that moment my heart broke. Watching the girls run around in their little cowboy boots, playing with the animals and knowing they had endured horrors beyond what I can even imagine brought tears to my eyes and an ache to my heart that remains untouched by time. 

I think about them often, and the godly man and woman seeking to give them a home, to bring some measure of healing to their little hearts, to create beauty from tragedy and to give those little girls a hope and a future. 

This deer is also a stencil! Imagine the gifts you could create!

Then I remembered the Facebook post I saw on our community website just a couple of weeks ago. It was a picture of a van and a warning. The van had been in our area, it’s driver attempting to capture and kidnap young girls to be sold into trafficking. I showed my girls. I emphasized the need to be aware and alert at all times and to let me know where they are and where they are going. Then I prayed. For safety, for protection, for the girls and the families touched by monsters like this. 

These were the things going through my mind as Amy spoke. “How can they ever believe there’s a God who loves them when they experience the things they are experiencing and no one is coming to help?” she said. “We can make a difference in the lives of these woman and little girls.” 

This is the sign I made at Amy’s workshop. Less than 10 minutes!

And I knew. I knew I wanted to use and sell her products. This Place I Belong is about creating beauty in our spaces and finding beauty in connection. Sometimes, when we connect with people, it’s messy. It’s ugly. It’s hard. We get our hands dirty and sometimes the pain of others penetrates our own hearts. But we do it anyway. Sometimes it takes a while for the beauty to become evident, to sprout and grow, much like a seed. Sometimes we have an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and nothing is more beautiful than that. 

Not all of us can be like my friend and foster and adopt little girls. But when we need paint or a stencil we can choose a company committed to making a difference in the lives of women and girls. 

Where to start when a tenant damages your property.

Stunned, I slowly made my way through the house, carefully stepping over trash and debris as my eyes surveyed the damage and squalor.

Doors had been ripped from the kitchen cabinets. Drawer fronts were missing. The mahogany countertops were badly damaged. There were holes in the walls. Window sashes, broken and devoid of glass hung from the windows and broken glass carpeted the floor.  The bathroom sink had sustained a couple of cracks. Entering the bedroom that once belonged to my son, I caught my breath.  The smell of pet urine was suffocating. And filth. Everywhere filth.

This is the old girl a few years ago.

It took a minute to get over my shock and horror at the condition of my house, and a few more to set aside my anger at the tenant. Ok. That’s not quite true.  The truth is, I’m still angry. It’s hard to understand how someone can treat someone else’s property like this.

I’ve had rental units for many years now. Early on, I was too trusting, too naive. I assumed that everyone was good and would treat my properties the way I treated homes when I rented.

This is her today.

I quickly learned that this just isn’t the case. So, I got better at screening tenants. Even so, sometimes a bad one slips through the cracks. As a landlord, I know this is a possibility. Never-the-less, when it happens it makes me angry!

For a while now, I’ve been contemplating selling this house, so when confronted with the mess and destruction, my first reaction was to find a buyer and sell it fast. Repairs take time and that amounts to lost income. Our real estate market is really hot.  In fact, while we were evaluating the damages, a neighbor stopped by to ask if we’d consider selling “as-is”. Tempting!

Damaged cabinet. Notice the mold in the open area. She removed the dishwasher and simply bent the copper supply line over, allowing water to seep out.

The kitchen, after most the rotting food, and pet messes had been removed.

One bedroom

Broken glass

Living room. This could have been much worse.

When I set my emotions aside and evaluated the situation, I realized that I spend a lot of time and money looking for damaged houses to fix and make a profit. So, why would I leave money on the table this time?

I was simply having an emotional response to an ugly situation. Doing the work to restore the home will bring a higher selling price and greater profits. It just makes sense, and dollars too!

Walking through the house again with a camera and notebook, I started making the repair list. Later, I would assign dollar amounts to each of these items and then get to work.

Some of the original woodwork. No, I did not choose the paint color and yes, the “art” was scratched into the plaster walls by the tenant’s children.

Simply cleaning made a big difference in the living room.

Dining room looking into the living room.

Living room looking into the dining room.

Having made the decision to renovate the house, I started getting excited. I really love this house. It’s a 1911, brick Craftsman, and  she still retains much of her period charm. The deep woodwork, though a little shabby, is beautiful still. The wood floors are original. I even love the old radiators!

It’s the kind of house that can work equally as well for a young family or for empty nesters. Having served us well for many years, first as our family home, then as an income property, she’s earned the right to  a make-over and I’m excited to give it to her. I’m also excited to share the process with you!

Someone asked me how I even start with a project like this. Here’s what we’ve done so far:

  • Created a master list of work to be completed.
  • Removed most of the tenant’s trash and debris, and there was  A LOT.
  • Removed the urine soaked carpet from the bedroom.
  • Cleaned everything that won’t be removed.
  • Removed some of the kitchen cabinets. I’ll leave the base cabinets until new cabinets arrive because we use that sink.
  • Removed the old, dirty microwave hood and cleaned the stove and refrigerator. These will likely end up being replaced with new appliances.
  • Scheduled the electrician to come evaluate the wiring.
  • Started prepping the walls for painting, although I don’t want to do too much in case the electrician needs to open walls to pull new wire.

We’ll have to invest time, effort and money, but in the end it will be worth it, and well, I love the process!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What kills creativity and how to get it back

Sometimes my creativity is firing on all cylinders. I’m full of ideas and energy. Then there are those times when it’s as elusive as rain in this Colorado drought. That’s where I’ve found myself the past couple of weeks. Ideas wouldn’t come and if they had I would not have had the energy to implement them anyway.

I’m pretty sure I know why.

Anna, Abigail, my dad and I spent the morning cleaning out the horse trailer. This was the 4th of July, Independence Day. I love the 4th. I love what it stands for. I love the history and I love this country. I still believe in the American Dream, still believe that what our forefather’s fought and died for is worthwhile.

By Tomi Price

But this year was different. This year, though the heat was suffocating, we closed all the windows in the house against the smoke that burned our eyes. This year we watched the sky, orange and eerie with smoke. We worried for those closer to the fire, those whose homes and businesses were being destroyed.

We checked Facebook, and other sites for updates on the Spring fire burning south of us. We read reports of 300 foot high flames  rolling north like a giant tsunami, firefighters powerless against it. We calculated it’s distance to us, and tried to remember what, if any natural defenses existed, then realized the dry the conditions and dry lighting posed an even greater threat.

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

I talked to the girls about how we would evacuate if needed, where we would go, how we would reconnect if separated, and we put plans in place. Because I’m a planner and because I refuse to go down without a fight, I contemplated plans for saving our home should the fire reach us and I ran my plans by my firefighter brother. I know this is unlikely, but my girls depend on me and I’d rather over prepare unnecessarily than find out too late that I was overly optimistic.

So on the 4th, we cleaned the trailer. It was still full of construction supplies from a renovation. I was hoping to clean out the garage and make some shelving for lumber before tackling that task but the pre-evacuation line was now just a mile or so away from our home. With two horses, a calf, two cats, two dogs and almost 40 chickens, we needed a plan, needed to be prepared. That meant the trailer needs to be ready and available.

Taken from a Southwest Airlines flight – photographer unknown

When reports came of rain in the fire area, I cried. When the rain reached us, I stood outside and with the rain falling on me, I cried again. Never mind that it lasted less than 5 minutes and wasn’t enough to make mud. It was rain and with it a promise that maybe this drought would not last forever, that someday my creek and pasture might return.

Two weeks ago, we’d celebrated my parent’s 50th anniversary. It had been a full week. Family arrived from out of state. The 30’ x 60’ tent was erected in my backyard. A dance floor was built, lights hung, and food prepared. A old friend agreed to sing, play guitar, be the DJ for special requests and provide sound equipment. The porta-potty was delivered. Invitations had gone out weeks before.

By Matt Brown

It was perfect. “Like  a scene from Parenthood,” my daughter Katie said. And it was. Nearly 70 friends and family gathered. We ate, danced, sang, and reconnected with some we’d nearly let slip away. At 2 o’clock in the morning, when I finally fell into bed, my heart was happy and full, but my body was exhausted!

The next day, with a houseful of company, I realized my well was having serious issues. Rather than pumping water, it was pumping sand, then it quit pumping all together. I was fairly certain the bottom of the well had caved in, but all of the well guys were busy. With very little snow this past winter and virtually no rain this year, mine wasn’t the only well having issues.

By Shannon Lynne Bechaver

Five days and several hundred dollars later, we had water in the house again. It was a temporary set up, connected to a water tank that needed filled almost daily from 10 miles down the mountain, but we could exist. Two days after that, a well company arrived and confirmed my suspicions. The lower part of the well had collapsed. They were able to make some adjustments and within a couple of hours, the well was working again. Next week, in a effort to avoid further collapse, they will add a new liner to the well and we hope the well will continue producing enough water to carry us through the drought.

Fatigue and stress. 

These two, more than anything else can kill my creativity and I’ve had plenty of both in recent weeks. I was lamenting to my son, that while I’ve accomplished practically nothing since the party, my brother has managed to rip up carpet, remove tile flooring and lay a new floor. Joseph reminded me that dry wells and wild fires are not insignificant events. He’s right, of course.

Source Unknown

Sometimes life is stressful and we do get tired. Things outside of our control invade our lives, thwart our plans and steal our energy. Fortunately, this is a temporary situation and I’ve found 5 strategies for re-igniting my creativity. Maybe some of them will work for you too.

1. Rest

Sleep. Be lazy. Putz around the house doing little things or nothing at all. Just rest. It’s fuel for your creative engine.

2.   Read

I’m a reader. I read to keep my mind sharp and challenge my thinking. I read to learn. I read for fun. I read to relax.

So when I’m tired and stressed, reading helps me unwind. I usually reach for one of our old Sonlight Curriculum read-aloud books. Reading out loud to the kids remains among my most cherished memories.  It doesn’t really matter so much what I read as long as it’s light and fun.

July 5th. Source Unknown

Source Unknown

3.   Do something completely unrelated

When creative thoughts are difficult to find, it helps to do something completely unrelated. Sit on the porch and watch the hummingbirds. Go to a Demolition Derby, or a movie; anything to disconnect for a minute or five.

By Abigail Bennett

By Abigail Bennett

4.  Enjoy other’s creativity

I read other’s blogs, flip through magazines, browse Pinterest or watch HGTV. I let other’s creativity inspire my own.

5. Start

After I’ve rested, I just start. Usually, this involves a tape measure. I revisit the space I know I want to tackle. I measure, then re-measure. I might choose a fabric, paint color or flooring. It doesn’t really matter. I just start.

If I’ve allowed myself to rest and disconnect, that’s enough to open the spigot and the creativity starts flowing again. This time the bathroom was the object of my measuring and I can’t wait to get started!

I’m a little embarrassed to show this. The bathroom is simply horrible, but I’m excited to transform it!

 

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How to Replicate Reclaimed Wood: getting that barn wood look without breaking the bank

I love old wood. It has character, patina, and a history. I always imagine it has a story to tell.

Our family used to have a big, old, barn. It sat on the land that ancestors homesteaded in Indiana in 1834. Sometimes, I would look at the hand hewn beams and imagine those who had built it generations ago. First, the trees would have been felled. They did not have chain saws. The work would have been backbreaking, accomplished with only the sweat and effort of men and beast.

Once felled the trees would have had to be relocated to the building site, where the painstaking work of shaping the logs would take place. I would imagine the community gathering together to lift the mammoth beams into place. My mind would picture the roof and walls complete and animals safely sheltered in the stalls while a blizzard howled. I’d see a distant relative patiently milking a Jersey cow all the while talking gently to her as her big, soft, brown eyes, gaze lazily back at him.

The barn is gone now. Time and weather had taken it’s toll. The good wood was harvested to be sold or re-used and the remaining structure was burned. Even the footprint left by the structure is gone, erased by new grass and with it, all evidence of it’s existence.

But I see it still. When I look, I see the barn, standing strong along with the farmhouse that used to stand next to it. I see the people who lived and loved and struggled there. I see young children running and playing, older children pumping water from the well. I see a grandmother picking beans in the garden and a wife working over a hot stove in the summer kitchen. I see men toiling in the field behind a team of horses and a plow, or forking hay from the haymow with snow piled high against the exterior walls.

These are the stories kept and guarded by old, reclaimed barn wood. Wood reclaimed from barns isn’t the only reclaimed wood. It’s come from old, one room school houses, factory floors, demolished department stores. The sources are as numerous as the stories they could tell.

Reclaiming it. Re-using it. Repurposing it. This  resonates within me. It honors those that first fashioned it from a tree in a forest into the useful thing it became. It honors the stories, maybe long forgotten, but there still the same.

Once, reclaimed wood was inexpensive and easy to obtain, but as decorating trends have changed and evolved, the demand has increased, prices have risen and inventories have dwindled.

I’m a purist. In my mind, there’s no substitution for the real thing. By definition, new wood does not have the same history. It’s devoid of stories and the patina possible only with time.

I’m also a realist. It’s not always practical nor affordable to use real, reclaimed wood, and some projects just don’t need it. So, I learned how to get that barn wood, aged look with minimal effort, minimal expense and no harsh chemicals.

Next time you need barn wood for your project, give this a try.

Pre-made stain solution ready to apply to wood

Make the solution:

Tear fine, steel wool into pieces and add to white vinegar. I generally make about 1/2 a gallon at a time. To do this, simply  add 1-3 pad of fine steel wool to the vinegar container. (I usually only use one.) You could also combine them in another sealable container. Stir or shake and allow to “steep.”

After half and hour or so, this solution will work to age wood. Simply apply the solution to your wood with a paintbrush.

And that’s it folks! Really. That’s all you need to get that reclaimed barn wood look.

But, here are a few tips to help you get the look you’re really after. They almost blend in with the aged picnic table.

1. The longer you allow the solution to “steep”, the darker the treated wood will become. The solution used in these photos has been “steeping” for approximately two months. It also tends to become rustier in appearance with time.

2. The stain will darken as it dries on the wood. It takes a little time for the color to develop.

From top to bottom: As you can see, the oak is much darker. It’s been approximately 15 minutes since the stain was applied. The next board is a 2 x 4. Next is a naturally aged piece of lumber for reference. The pine board is last. The white streaks are because I lightly sanded it after it had dried.

3. If you want your project to be more rustic, the wood can be distressed prior to staining. Here are some of my favorite ways to do this:

  •           Lay the wood on gravel and walk on it.
  •           Place a chunky chain on the wood and bang it with a hammer.
  •           Scratch with a stiff wire brush.
  •           Use a wire brush wheel for a drill to create circular marks in the wood
  •           Use a wood burner, or propane torch to add burn marks

4. The solution reacts with tannins found in the wood and different woods contain different amount of tannins. If your wood is not coloring like you want, try brewing strong, black tea, and applying it first. Allow it to dry, then add the staining solution. The solution will react with the tannins in the tea, that have now soaked into your wood.

Treated 2 x 4 is on top. Next is the naturally aged lumber. I lightly sanded the dried oak piece and placed in on top of the natural piece so you can see how closely the color matches. The pine piece at the bottom has multiple coats of stain. You can see how it’s really starting to darken.

5. Multiple coats will result in a darker finish. For a subtle finish, “steep” the solution for only half and hour and apply only one coat. For a darker finish, allow the solution to “steep” longer, apply strongly brewed black tea before applying the solution, and apply multiple coats.

6. Experiment and test on a piece of scrap or the bottom of a project before applying to the entire thing. You can create everything from a soft, subtle gray, to a more rusty look, to ebony. Because this is permanent, make sure you are creating the look you want.

Left to right. 2 x 4 board. The top of it has a single coat, the lower half has two coats. See how much darker and less red it is? Next is the naturally aged piece. Then, the pine board. The bottom was sanded and had a second coat. The top had a single coat. Finally, the piece of oak. Notice how is is more gray than the pine pieces.

7. After the wood has thoroughly dried, you can seal it with wax or polyurethane. If using polyurethane, use water based as oil-based products will yellow with time, changing the look of your project. Annie Sloan offers the most well known wax product. It’s not inexpensive but a little goes a long way. If you can find it locally, you can save the shipping charges and several companies are now offering comparable products. I often see them at Vintage Markets and antique stores. Rust-Oleum offers a wax alternative that is supposed to be easier to use than wax while still providing  ultra-matte protection that looks unfinished. It can be brushed on, or they also offer a spray can version. (In the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t tried the Rust-Oleum product yet. I am looking forward to testing it on my next chalk paint project.)

Same as above only in reverse so you can see it in different light. This stain has been steeping for a very long time. For a more subtle result, use the stain sooner.

8. The solution can be brushed, wiped or sprayed on.

9. Any steel, such as nails and screws, can be used in place of the steel wool. Steel wool just breaks down more quickly, and the finer the steel wool, the quicker it will breakdown. If you’re impatient like me, stick to the steel wool.

10. When your stain has steeped to the desired color, strain it through a paper towel to prevent continued breakdown of the steel wool and the solution will not continue to darken.

10. Have FUN! This stuff is fun to experiment with!

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