Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

my first ever Annie Sloan Chalk Paint project!

 

where have you been all my life ASCP?

 

"It's a girl's paint, but boys can use it too."  ... it says that right there on the can!
~

 ... just a quick post to tell you about my latest addiction, ASCP.

 found this old wooden compote of my mom's in my 'to be donated pile' and it was the perfect piece to 'practice' on.

 

 

... a layer of Arles and Louis Blue, some distressing and some clear wax and I have a perfect place to show a few of my favorite sea treasures.I like the look ... just a practice run before my next BIG project ... restoring Stefanie's mom's Adirondack chair from Virginia Beach ... no pressure! 

... remembering each and every life lost on this day 12 years ago,
and grateful for every person, that since that day,
has tried to make this world a better place to be ... 

 

treasure box cover ...

 

 

this is a treasure box cover ... a treasure, in that, it was a great deal at a reduced price from a home goods store.  Wendy just didn't LOVE the 'Relax' paper decal on the top ...

so I sanded it off and ...

... painted her a sunset/sunrise New England scene

and added a message in a bottle washed up on the shore ...

Wendy came up with her own message to live by ...

 

 

"LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE

SWIM IN THE SEA

WALK IN THE MOONLIGHT

LAUGH AND BE FREE!"

~wjnr

 

 

 and the inside treasure box cover!

 

Happy Retirement Wendy!

WR ... can you see it?

ladder plant stand with ❤

i found this sweet old ladder (already painted) at a consignment shop in Portsmouth, NH.  Shell and Bruce transported it for me and it has been in the basement for over a year now.  Had to have it, but I hadn't planned to do this with it.  Was ready to go buy some boards to make the shelves when i decided to use two of my vintage ironing boards (Rog disassembled the boards and built brackets to help position the boards on the ladder from the ironing board legs).  NOW, for the best part of the story ... LOVE when stuff just comes together!

this ironing board came from Kevin's grandmother ... Helen Veronica Lasky Beloin.  Kev swapped me for a brand new ironing board and iron.

this ironing board came from Irene Newsome Munson.  I had helped Irene with her housework and told her if she ever wanted to get rid of the vintage board I would be interested.  Shortly after she passed away, her daughter called me and said that they had found a note taped to the back of the board to give the ironing board to me.

both ironing boards were manufactured by the same company.  both Helen and Irene were very best friends while they were here on earth.  Irene was 90 and Helen was 91 years old when they departed from this earth. 
Can't wait til it warms up a bit and I can fill these shelves with flowers and herbs and treasures!

Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop to Benefit Sandy Hook Elementary School

Welcome to my auction post for the Paint Party Friday Auction Blog to Benefit the Sandy Hook Elementary School!

 

When I was a little girl I remember my mother telling me that I should be good because Santa was coming. I believed in Santa for a very long time – I still believe in Santa and enjoy painting him at every opportunity I get on any surface that allows paint.

 I LOVE Christmas and I am always scrambling to get everything done before this holiday. I painted this Santa in 2011 on a Chinese bottle gourd born and raised in the USA.  At that time I was trying to focus more on being good and doing good things for others.

 I really liked the way this Santa came together.  He sits on a Paperclay base with the stamped words GRATITUDE, PEACE, HOPE and HEAL. Vintage sheet music snowflakes adorn his coat. His sack is filled with children’s toys and a painter’s palate and there is a Christmas tree ready for decorating.  In his hands he holds a banner reminding us to "be good ❤ do good".  He stands approximately 14" tall, not including his stem.
 

 

 

 

On December 14^th 2012 while I was busy scrambling to make Christmas lists and write Christmas cards and painting Santas, an incomprehensible event took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and time stood still for so many of us. Christmas lists and cards and Santas seemed insignificant and Christmas will never be the same for me. I will always have GRATITUDE for my many blessings and I will continue to pray for PEACE, and I have HOPE that there is a plan for all of us, but it will take forever to HEAL from that day.

 

I am very thankful to Kristin and Eva of Paint Part Friday for organizing this auction and I have selected this Santa gourd as my auction item. 

Auction Details

My auction will run from Friday, March 15th, 2013 until Monday, March 18th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EDT.  (I am in CT, to find out what time that is where you are please click here).

 

Shipping anywhere is on me!  If Santa is shipped internationally, shipping is still free BUT the buyer is responsible for any duty/taxes/etc. 

How to Bid

Starting/Opening bid is $25.00 please

1. Place a bid  (with a way to reach you) in the comments section.

2. Bookmark this page so you can easily check back to see if you have been outbid and need to make another bid.

3. If you have the winning bid I will contact you.

4. Payment will be made from YOU to a Sandy Hook Elementary charity (see below).  I will NOT personally be collecting any money.

5. Once you have made your donation to the charity, please send your proof of donation (a forwarded receipt) to me at: gerchouinard(at)comcast(dot)net

6. After I have received your proof of donation in the form of a forwarded receipt (and you have supplied your mailing address), I will mail Santa to you! 

 

Please remember as you contemplate your bids, all proceeds go to very worthy causes.  Please check out the below charities where donations can be made and pick your favorite.

 

http://www.mainelovessandyhook.com/

... a beautifully crafted memorial honoring the 26 lives lost December 14th, 2012.

http://www.thesandygroundproject.org/

... an endeavor to create 26 playgrounds (living memorials) "to provide a symbol of hope, recovery and return to normalcy".

 

https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/

 

http://newtownmemorialfund.org/

 

 

 

... any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Enjoy the auction and thank YOU for participating if you can ...

***THIS AUCTION IS NOW CLOSED***
Congrats to Eva for her winning bid and thank YOU so much for supporting the Sandy Hook Elementary School charities!  Thank you to those who participated in this auction with bids, words of encouragement and acts of kindness. Santa will be moving to Ottawa soon!  Thx all again!  ❤

 

 

Sandy Hook Angels and Paint Party Friday

Remembering Charlotte, Daniel, Rachel, Olivia, Josephine, Dylan, Madelein, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, Ana, James, Grace, Anne Marie, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Avielle, Lauren, Mary, Victoria, Benjamin and Allison today and every day …

While here on earth they were stars in the eyes of their parents, siblings, spouses, significant others, all other family members and friends and now and forever, they will live in our hearts and shine from the heavens.

 

I’ve tried to represent these 26 precious beings with an assemblage of wood and placed them watchfully on a stairway to Heaven. Six female grownups and twenty little children (twelve girls and eight boys) all taken from this earth far too soon.   

 

Hand and machine crafted shapes along with vintage wood handed down from generation to generation, along with old VT barn wood and wooden Scrabble tiles. 

And the paint … angel white with a touch of pink or blue.  A Sandy Hook Elementary School green heart shaped memorial ribbon adorn each angel.  The yellow stars are painted with leftover paint from a children’s summer piñata I had once made.

 

 

 ... and it's Friday already again!

Where does the time go?  

It's Paint Party Friday!  Visit PPF to find out more about the PPF Auction Blog Hop to Benefit Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Anyone can contribute art, Anyone can buy!

❤ 

 

 

26 Sandy Hook Angels

 pretty passionate about this project ... still needs a lot of work ... but I think it's going to come together quite nicely ... I've changed it's direction a few times ... and I'm taking good care of my little creations ❤

will never forget that day ...

and it's PPF ... so "let's play"

Goodbye 2012 ... Hello 2013

 

Goodbye 2012 … Hello 2013!

... 2012 taught me just how short life is, so for me for 2013 … I pray that I will be a bit more grateful, patient, brave, creative and more understanding.  I pray that I will be less judgmental and eat less pasta.  I pray that I will continue to be healthy enough.  I pray that I will continue to be warm and dry and have a roof over my head.  I pray that I will always have what I need and have the ability to work hard for what I want.  I pray for more quality time to spend with family and friends.  I pray that I can somehow make a positive difference in this world.  I pray that I do not put off the things I want to do, for another day may not come.  I pray for peace … and if these things work for you, I pray for them for you too.  ❤

thankful for YOU and praying that your wishes come true in 2013