As I write this post, I’m up in northern Michigan taking a few days to unwind, clear my brain and relax.
I can only imagine how creative I would be if I could go for a walk through here every morning.
The weather has been cold and rainy but we don’t care, there’s something so peaceful it and who can beat a cherished walk through a national forest with family.
I treasure every walk along Lake Michigan especially when there are treasures to be found along the way
We love hunting for Petoskey Stones, Michigan’s state stone. For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, Petoskey Stones are fossils from coral that used to grow here 350,000 million years ago long before dinosaurs were even in existence.
I’ve wanted to do the World’s Longest Yard Sale ever since I first heard about it but the timing always conflicted with something else. This year I’m crossing it off my bucket list!
This is totally a last minute thing for us (YIKES!!) as we were waiting to find out if one of our friend’s could get off work. She just found out that she can so, as of yesterday, it’s official ~ we’re going!!
We’ll be heading south from Grand Rapids, Michigan into Tennessee. The problem is, I’m having a hard time figuring out which towns are the best to stay in, which locations have the best and most condensed sales for cool junk & furniture deals… Where are the “Do Not Miss This Sale” spots… We’re not interested in baby clothes…
If any of you are either vendors, have shopped at or live along the route and can help us out, we would greatly appreciate it!!!
Do you ever have one of THOSE days? THOSE weeks? THOSE months? I do! Sometimes I just need to walk away from everything and escape the chaos for a little while. This is one of our favorite places to relax.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
Lake Michigan’s Beautiful Shoreline, Empire, Michigan
I love Michigan’s summers! Since it’s light until almost 10:00 p.m. this time of year, late afternoons and evenings the perfect time for painting. The sun isn’t intense, the winds are usually calm and everything seems more tranquil.
I took the opportunity to slap together a quick makeover using various leftover sample pots of American Paint Company’s chalk, clay and mineral paint. I dumped blobs of each color onto a plate and went to town. No deep thought, no planning ~ Ready, Set, GO!
The only thing I knew I wanted was a chunky, patchwork quilt type of colorful finish. I used American Paint Company’sBeach Glass, Orange Grove, Amber Waves of Grain, Home Turf, Dessert Cactus (and I can’t remember what else). Here’s what I ended up with.
To begin, I simply slapped on the paint and kept layering… and layering… and layering!
This dresser is a good representation of what’s going through my brain at any given moment.
To me, it’s not just about the color, it’s how a piece feels
I wish you could reach through your monitor and feel how silky smooth the finish is on this piece. It’s sealed with American Paint Company’s Light Antiquing Wax which adds a sunset-like warmth to the vast array of colors I used.
You don’t have to mix it up yourself and worry whether you have it mixed well enough to cure properly. It’s good to go.
You don’t have to fart around cutting the dark wax with clear wax just to make it glide on evenly. It naturally spreads out evenly without creating streaks you can’t blend into the finish.
You also won’t have to dilute it with Mineral Spirits like some chemically laden waxes require to make them work properly ~ just brush it on like you would Clear Wax and buff with an old t-shirt and you’ll end up with such a buttery smooth finish that you won’t be able to stop touching it.
Ok, maybe that’s just me
I touch a lot of painted furniture that doesn’t FEEL good
To create this look, take a variety of colors and start slapping it on in random patterns. Dry brush in every which way then use a little water to spread it around and repeat over and over again until you like what you see. I used a variety of colors from American Paint Company’s chalk/clay/mineral paints including: Fireworks Red, Home Turf, Surfboard, Orange Grove, Wild Horses, Home Plate, Beach Glass, Coral Reef and whatever else was within my reach that day.
I do the same thing with carpet, couches, sweatshirts and linens. Living room carpet needs to be soft enough to lay on, the fabric on a couch needs to be so comfy that you can crash face first into it… Yes, I’ve been known to lay on couches at LaZboy and I’m about as experienced as they come at picking out the best rocking chair. Ok ~ so I like to rock. One of these days I’ll share some of my earliest photos of this habit that I seem to have carried on to adulthood. Did I mention, I still rock my 10 year old? SHHHH ~ don’t tell her I told you!!
Leave me a comment below ~ I’d love to hear about your favorite color combinations!
Did you know that…
We’ve opened up a Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428? This is where Cathy and I paint our furniture but we want our customers to know that we’re here for you. We encourage everyone to stop in any time to buy paint or to get your questions answered.
We’ve taught people from all over the United States and Canada how to paint furniture Shizzle Style using chalk and clay paints? Join us for a fun and relaxing workshop. Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
You can Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints?
Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE? It is ~ so what are you waiting for? Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page? We share all sorts of additional tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page?).
Shizzle Design is an American Paint Company’s Chalk/Clay/Mineral Paints in West Michigan locations and sell both domestically and international online? Click LOCATIONS or Online Shizzle Shop.
Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s
I blinked and this week was gone! Between hauling the kids back and forth to Vacation Bible School and Cathy out with a horrible Strep infection, the week just went poof.
I’ve had a lot of requests for how some of the finishes were created so without further adieu, here are the makeovers from last week’s Shizzle Style Furniture Paint Workshop.
Gail made our paint class part of her vacation. She and her husband drove up to Michigan and spent some time near the Lakeshore in Holland before attending our class. She brought in the most amazing ornate table that she refinished in one of my signature paint finishes.
Didn’t it turn out stunning? You can learn how easy it is to create this look here.
Mary & Sue drove in together for the workshop. From the sounds of it, Mary would give Karen from Redoux Interiors a run for her money should they end up at the same dumpster.
She scores all sorts of things in the alleys on trash day including this unique side table. She had already started painting it before I captured the before picture, but there was a lot of decorative painting on it when she started similar to what’s on the top.
She slapped on a coat of CeCe Caldwell’s Michigan Pine in a few minutes.
She then slapped on CeCe Caldwell’s Kentucky Mint in random places. While she was doing this, we could see some of the original gold popping through so she worked that into the design by wet distressing back through.
A little bit of Michigan Pine was dry brushed after it was wet distressed.
To break it up and tie in with the hardware, Mary painted the top with CeCe’s Virginia Chestnut. I love, love, love the brown with it. I think it will look fabulous in her daughter’s tropical themed room!
Mary’s friend Sue brought in an old gossip bench from her entryway. She is a bit of a perfectionist so the thought of slapping on a bunch of paint made her nervous when she first started messing with it.
Sue wanted just a touch of white to show through under the red so she did a thin coat of Dover White then painted her bench with American Paint Company’s Firework’s Red. This is the most spectacular red! I just love this color! Did I mention I like it ~ a little?
She distressed it little by little to reveal bits and pieces of the white and wood underneath. I think the color is perfect on this piece!
I don’t know what setting I had my camera on, but it looks pink in this picture
It’s not really pink ~ for some reason the color is off on this shot
In person, Firework’s Red is the most rich, beautiful red ever!
This was another quick re-do during the workshop. Mary slapped one quick coat of CeCe Caldwell’s Santa Fe Turquoise on her metal parlor chair to use as a planter.
What a cool pop of color against the flowers!
Bonnie sells painted furniture at both the new and old Changing Thymes in Grandville, Michigan but she wanted to learn some new finishes to kick it up a notch. She brought in a small round end table which she base coated in CeCe Caldwell’s Vermont Slate. She then painted over that with a custom mix I made up for her of Omaha Ochre and Vintage White.
She wanted to do a similar finish to that which I painted on this dresser ~
Did I ever even post on this dresser yet? Oh zazooz! I’m losin’ it!
Bonnie wet distressed to pull back the top layer showing bits and pieces of CeCe Caldwell’s Vermont Slate.
The last piece painted at the workshop is a rustic nightstand. I actually thought it was a drawer when she first carried it in. Bonnie used a simple coat of Vintage White, wet distressed back to the wood and in a just a few minutes, she had created this!
Isn’t it adorable? It could go just about anywhere now!! Great job ladies!! Cathy and I had a blast ~ thanks for sharing your day with us!!
Heres a sneak peak of what I’m working on now… see ya soon!!!
Have a great night!! Shelly
Click here to see many more Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, Tutorials & Video How-To’s
I’ll never forget our first trip to The Children’s Museum in Portland, Oregon. Our oldest daughter was absolutely IN LOVE with the interactive water part of the museum where little kids get to put on raincoats and play with all sorts of cool water contraptions! I was struck by the vibrant colors that surrounded us and thought how cool it would be as a child to have a room painted with so whimsy. As soon as we landed in Michigan, I drove to Home Depot and picked up some paint.
When saw the vibrant colors of American Paint Company’s Paints, I couldn’t help but think of two things: garden chairs and children’s furniture. I had two twin Dixie headboards in my stash and wanted to paint them to coordinate with the ornate mirror that my sister Cathy had just painted.
I planned to paint a base coat of the Coral Reef and Orange Grove and then layer over it with Beach Glass distressing back through but I loved the blended orange color so much ~ I left it.
I still think it looks cool against the Beach Glass and Surfboard on the dresser. Might not be your thing, but I love it. Makes me feel like I’m in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. You know the room, edible lollipop trees, chocolate rivers… you’ve dreamed of that too, I know you have!!
I did finish my daughter’s room that week so many years ago… I still love it today (when I can find it under all those clothes)
Took the matching twin headboards to my booth at Not So Shabby in Holland, Michigan and they were gone in a blink
Click here to see many more Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, Tutorials & Video How-To’s
I hope you’re all enjoying a picture perfect night like we are here in West Michigan! The sun is setting as I write this post and I have to tell you ~ I’m so excited to share the pictures of this piece with all of you!
I loved it when I purchased it, then I got it home and for the life of me, I couldn’t decide what to do with it. So it sat in my garage until last week.
I had a general idea of how I wanted to do it but it sure evolved over the course of a couple weeks. I wanted to create some kind of old world paint finish that would represent years of wear and tear.
You’re going to think I’m crazy for how I started it, but I wanted to create a colorful base coat that would make it look as though it had been painted many times over the years. I loved the blue and purple that peaked through on the inspiration piece I had seen online. It looks nothing like what I ended up with but hey ~ ya gotta start somewhere!
What can I say? It was the first week of summer break!
I have to tell you, I received some pretty interesting comments after I posted this shot on our Shizzle Facebook Page. That’s ok, I’m used to getting strange looks from neighbors, my husband, my kids…. but stay with me here, this is just my base coat. I wanted a light neutral and APC’s Rushmore fit the bill! It’s a beautiful taupe, one of my absolute favorites!! I poured my paint into a little bowl and diluted it with a little water slapping it on with random brush strokes to cover everything.
I had already painted the details with Freedom’s Road. It’s a deep slate color which looks similar to Lincoln’s Hat until it dries. That’s when you can see Freedom Road is slate and Lincoln’s Hat is black. Anyway… I painted the crown molding with Freedom Road then dry brushed with a little Desert Cactus.
Then came the fun part ~ I used a damp rag to wet distress / remove the Rushmore which started revealing some of the initial colors. Cath taped this video of me while I was distressing.
Click the following link to watch my VIDEO on how to Wet Distress Large Areas to reveal Colors Underneath
It looked cool but after I had finished the front of it, I stepped back and realized doing the entire piece like this would be WAY too much.
I had to break it up.
It was late, dark and I was tired and crabby that it wasn’t turning out how I had planned so I painted over the door inserts with Desert Cactus and after it was dry, did a crazy wet wash using Lincoln’s Hat.
That’s when my heart skipped a bit. It was finally starting to take shape and represent my style.
I worked on it on and off for several more days, tweaking it here and there until I was finally satisfied. Sit back and enjoy all the close ups.
The paint we use has both chalk AND clay in the mix!
Hope you enjoyed the ride! It’s already loaded up an will be headed to the store. For location and availability of this piece, click here.
If it doesn’t turn out how you imagined, just keep working it!
Have a great night!! Shelly
Click here to see many more Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, Tutorials & Video How-To’s
Anyone who follows our blog has probably figured out by now that we’re not the type to slap on a fresh coat of paint and call it good.
We drive ourselves bonkers fussing over the smallest details. My sister and I definitely fall into the “Tinker” category and if you knew our dad, you know where we acquired it.
Cathy and I like to add multiple layers of paint and mix it up using a variety of techniques, brushes, paint colors and finishes. Because of this, we added a Funky Finishes section to our project gallery. The problem is, you don’t see the Funky Finishes button until you click on….
Beneath our Funky Finishes button, you’ll find all sorts of different pieces we’ve refinished using different techniques. When you have a chance, click through some of our projects then let me know what you think.
Why am I mentioning this now? Because I’m getting super excited to unveil my latest Funky Finish on the armoire I just painted. I’ve been messing with this the past two weeks and will be finished soon. Here’s a sneak peak!
If you follow our Facebook Page, you’ve probably been following the progression of this piece. We share little snippets of information on our Shizzle Facebook page several times a day but I’ll be posting the complete transformation of this French Country Armoire later this week right here.
Many mahalos also go out to Marian at Miss Mustardseed and Danielle at Silver Pennies for featuring Cathy’s Vintage Dresser
We just got back from a fun overnight trip of pickin’ at the Michigan Antiques and Collectible Festival in Midland, Michigan. It’s a flea market spread over 80 acres with over 1,000 vendors near the thumb area on the east side of the state.
We went there to hunt for treasures for our Shizzle Design booth and check out the Design Gallery Competition.
Interior Design students from Central Michigan University and Michigan State University competed against each other in a room design. Each group was given a room to design s/a dining room, living room, bedroom… and could choose their wall color prior to the competition.
They were allowed to bring two items from home but they had to find everything else they needed for their design at the Michigan Antiques and Collectible Festival.
Friday afternoon, they jumped in their golf carts and raced off to score their treasures. They had to find pieces as the vendors were setting up and ask them if they could use their items in their designs, all items still were for sale and the girls were great sharing their prices…
There were six rooms designed ~ which one is your favorite?
Room #1 ~ Winner of People’s Choice Award
Room #2
Room #3
Room #4
Room #5 ~ Winner of Judges Award
Room #6
Aren’t they all amazing? So many cool elements in each room! I love the color combinations, the light fixture, the crates, the window treatments and the shutters in room #2.
I also loved the hope chest at the foot of the bed in Room #4
The girls who designed Room #6 pulled together some really neat elements creating this awesome bar.
What a cool score they found with this vintage cabinet in all it’s chippy fabulousness. I could walk right into this, kick back and relax. Seriously, any room with a rocking chair and a comfy blankee says home to me ~ love it!!
I was blown away with what they came up with. So many neat ideas from flea market picks!! Great job girls!! Can’t wait to hear who won!! Which one is your favorite??
Click here to see many more Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, Tutorials & Video How-To’s
That’s how much confidence I think this old gal has now all decked out in her new threads! I think the look fits her personality perfectly ~ a little vintage chic yet colorful, classy and full of pizzaz.
My sister Cathy is the one who did this amazing makeover. She discovered this antique dresser in her son’s basement. She was looking a little worn down and aged when she found her.
But in no time, she had an entirely new look ~ I still can’t get over how cool it turned out. The variations and layering of color are so pretty!! If I’m type A, my sister is AAA ~ she REALLY fuses with her pieces, what can we say?
She used a color that I never would have tried because quite frankly, I thought it was a really ugly. I know! That’s not very nice ~ but I never would have pulled this color off the shelf…
until I saw this…
Boy was I wrong on THAT one! Just look at all this scrumptiousness!
Cathy painted the dresser in CeCe Caldwell’s Chesapeake Blue which is a blue, gray, with almost a periwinkle undertone.
She then washed over it with Dover White. Dover White best resembles the color of ground oatmeal flour. Not too brown, not too gray but with a rich, creamy color. It’s so pretty and without pigment so it’s quite translucent which create amazing affects when washed over other colors.
She sealed it with Clear Wax and while still wet, added a little surprise.
If you haven’t played with CeCe Caldwell’s Aging Dust in your wax then you’re missing out ~ Big Time! You just tap a little onto your brush and pounce it into and brush it into your wax while it’s still wet. Dip your brush into your Aging Dust then gently tap the excess off your brush before applying ~ like you would if you were applying a loose powder blush to your face.
The dust mixes right into the wax and adds tons of dimension!
So… huh, huh, huh? Did she do good or what?
I think she did and it sold almost immediately. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
We’ve opened up a Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428? This is where Cathy and I paint our furniture but we want our customers to know that we’re here for you. We encourage everyone to stop in any time to buy paint or to get your questions answered.
We’ve taught people from all over the United States and Canada how to paint furniture Shizzle Style using chalk and clay paints? Join us for a fun and relaxing workshop. Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
You can Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints?
Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE? It is ~ so what are you waiting for? Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page? We share all sorts of additional tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page?).
Shizzle Design is an American Paint Company’s Chalk/Clay/Mineral Paints in West Michigan locations and sell both domestically and international online? Click LOCATIONS or Online Shizzle Shop.
Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s
Three weeks ago, I traveled to the bay area to help out at the Paris Flea Market Fundraising Paint Workshop that was put on for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation.
Karen Berg, my blogging BFF from Redoux Interiors picked me up at the airport and we were off and running. No, Karen is not standing on a stool ~ she’s just way taller than me.
We were expecting the crowd to be capped off at 22 participants but when we walked in the Paris Flea Market the night before, we found this!
The number had nearly doubled! Wowzer!! The owner, Susan Goodman, didn’t have the heart to turn anyone down when the proceeds were going to such a good cause.
Crohns and Colitis affects nearly half a million people in North America alone. Susan understands how horrible this disease is because she’s watched her manager’s daughter suffer it’s affect for years. That kid has gone through so much but she is determined in her lifetime to find a cure! I can only imagine what she and her mom Lonae felt when they saw all these wonderful people show up to support the cause.
Let me just say, every moment I spent with Karen was an adventure in and of itself. Karen said a prayer just as we were headed out the morning of the fundraiser. She prayed for everything to go smoothly… Apparently, God had other plans for our morning because five minutes into our trip, our car overheated and we still had a good 30 minute drive into Livermore.
Never fear ~ Karen is always equipped with an apron!
We may be chics ~ but we are used to fixing things up ya know!
Thank goodness the Mr. was still nearby. After a quick switch-a-roo of vehicles, we were on our way just in the nick of time. Susan started out making introductions. Some people are just naturals speaking in front of a crowd…
Other’s… not so much. When Karen handed the mike over to me, I was totally caught off-guard. I felt like a dear caught in headlights when I was asked to introduce myself. I’ll be the first one to tell you I am NOT the type of person who wants to be the center of attention ~ like EVER! Especially if it has anything to do with talking about me. Can somebody say AWKWARD!
I teach paint workshops all the time but I do them in a much more intimate setting. I’m in my element when I’m working one on one with each individual student; sharing tips and techniques with everyone as we move along.
Speaking in front of a large group with a mike in my hand, especially when I had to talk about myself, made me feel VERY uncomfortable. I have no idea what I said, but I’m know the words came out all twisted lacking any sense at all.
I am SO thankful Karen is comfortable with this! I was able to go around and offer my help as she explained how to do it. Ok, I’m not sure what Karen is doing with her mouth right here, but she does like to make silly faces.
Apparently it’s contagious because by the end of the week we were both doing this!
CeCe flew out for the fundraiser as well. She, like me, prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. Everyone was excited to meet her had fun learning how to mix new colors. I especially fell in love with the deep coral color she mixed up.
After a morning of color mixing, and practicing different techniques on trim pieces and pictures frames, the students brought in their pieces from home and went to town. In the blink of an eye, their furniture was transformed into…
Doug flew in for the event and stole the show with his charming nature. He was definitely the life of the party!
He created the neatest finish on a chair he was painting for a friend ~ I can’t wait to see how it turned out!
Many mahalos go out to everyone who helped make this day a huge success!
and may the prayers continue for all those affected with Crohns and Colitis until a cure is found!
![painted-furntire-makeovers3[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/painted-furntire-makeovers31.png "painted-furntire-makeovers3[1]")
![Shizzle-Tips-and-Tutorials3[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Shizzle-Tips-and-Tutorials31.png "Shizzle-Tips-and-Tutorials3[1]")
![Funky-Finishes3[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Funky-Finishes31.png "Funky-Finishes3[1]")
![Funky-Finishes31_thumb[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Funky-Finishes31_thumb1.png?resize=438%2C212)
![93506153[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/935061531.jpg)
![fffbutton2[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/fffbutton21.jpg)
![silver_pennies_sundays_featured_button[1]](https://i0.wp.com/shizzle-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/silver_pennies_sundays_featured_button1.jpg)
