In the midst of this long cold winter, Cathy and I were invited to be one of the featured speakers at West Michigan’s Women’s Expo.

We immediately started preparing for it.  I was panicked about how we were going to pull something of this magnitude together in such a short amount of time?  Cathy had left for Florida with mom and I was already swamped with the start of our Inventory Clearance Sale when we decided to stop carrying CeCe Caldwell’s Paints.

I knew we wouldn’t be able to do this expo on our own so got on my knees and prayed and prayed and prayed.  I then gathered the best friends a person could ever ask for and together, we pulled it all together.

I didn’t finish everything I wanted to do prior to the event due to a major crashing of my laptop

the night before I had to get all our show particulars to Channel 13 for our segment on Take Five so I ended pulling an all nighter but I got it in… three minutes before the deadline!  Considering all the challenges and technical difficulties we had leading up to the event, I think we did alright.

By the time of the event, we needed a 26′ long U-haul to pack everything!

It was cold, VERY COLD, the day we moved everything into DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.  Many, many thanks to Beth and Liz, Ann, Uncle Jack, Chantelle & Ohana who froze their okoles off that day.

Many, many thanks to my cheese-head friend Ann and fellow American Paint Company Retailer, who brought in a bunch of fluff to stage our space.  I’m telling you, this gal is one talented chicka.  She’s also a hoot!  I laughed for four days straight!  Love this girl!!  But I have to admit, I am so NOT talented with staging and never could have done it without you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

We started moving things around until it made sense and before we knew it, everything was in it’s place!

Ahhh ~ that reminds me!!!  We still have to pick winners for the paint workshop giveaways!!  

We haven’t even opened the box!  I’ll get right on that this morning and post the winners here!

Here are some of the things we had For Sale

Some of the furniture sold during the show, some was taken to Not So Shabby in Holland and some of it is back in our Studio.  Contact us if there’s something  you see on here that you’re interested in.

This flower dresser was revamped.  The entire top was refinished and the flower was enhanced with more paint and an outline.

We did a lot of teaching during the show both on stage and within our own booth.  I’m so glad Laurie caught the bug!  Thanks for all your help Laurie!  She helped out so much with all the details like designing our “Transform Your Find with Shizzle Design” T-shirts!  Thanks Laurie!!

It was awesome to finally meet so many of our customers in person!!  Thanks for much for coming out, it means the world to us!

We didn’t realize how much advertising  was going on all over the place.  Thanks so much for bringing articles from newspapers and magazines so we could read them!  I can’t wait to send to our mom.

It was great to have so much interest in our Shizzle Tips & Techniques during the show!

What’s your favorite American Paint Company Color???  

The hottest selling colors during the show were: Peacock, Limoges, Crushed Tea, Sackcloth, Waistcoat, Cannonball, Home Plate, Beach Glass, Fireworks Red, Rushmore and Freedom Road.  Shoppers also stocked up on lots of our fabulous Clear, Light and Dark Waxes as well as Topcoat while they were at the show and our metallic mica powders and American Grit were hot hot hot!

Thanks also for joining us for our stage presentations!  It was so cool to see such a large turnout and meet people from all over the place.

Mya, you were awesome painting on stage!  You really showed them how easy it is to apply; everyone loved how you painted!!  Thanks for helping out with our demonstrations!!

We’re painting this bed for my Aunt Katie and Uncle Jim, all profits from the sale of this bed will go back to them for all the help and support they’ve always given to us throughout our lives.  Thanks guys!!  You’re the best!!

Anastasia, you’re so awesome!!  I absolutely adore you!!  Thanks for all your help and for all the fun you added to the weekend!!  You’re the best!!  Hey, I didn’t get a picture of your handsome son, but please express our gratitude towards him as well!

Ok, so we started getting a little goofy after three days straight at the expo.  Ann started it, the silly virus was contagious from that point on!

Thanks for all your help Lori!!  You rock!! and always brighten up a room with your upbeat personality.  We love you Lori!!

Thanks Liz!  Vanna doesn’t have anything on you!!

We can’t even begin to express the amount of gratitude we have for each and every one of you for all the help and support you’ve given: Lori, Liz, Laurie, Anastasia, Kami, Lisa, Kathe, Beth, Ann, Uncle Jack, Kalei, Kekai, Ka’iulani, Denise, Chantelle and everybody else who helped out before, during and after the show.

Thank you!!

Did you know that…

• We’ve opened up our 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 one of our super fun workshops.  Learn hands-on in our casual & relaxed environment.  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 ~ 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).
• We have numerous Pinterest Boards  Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
• We  sell American Paint Company Paints & Supplies our of our Shizzle Design Paint Studio (headquarters) 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428 as sell as several other locations in the greater Grand Rapid’s area.  Click LOCATIONS to find out where we’re located.  We also ship the paint domestically and internationally through our Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

 

 

When the Ellis Collection from American Paint Company arrived, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them.  Peacock, Limoges, Sackcloth, Crushed Tea, Cannonball and Cameo just to name a few are flying off the shelves every day but there is one color that might be overlooked and it’s one of our favorites.

Introducing… Waistcoat!

That is what you see when you look at the PINT size jar.  

The Ellis Collection is currently sold in Pints, not sample sizes ~ pints.

Waistcoat is rich and luxurious and perfectly pigmented!

It’ is fabulous by itself  but might be somewhat intimidating the first time you use it because it appears so deep in the jar then relatively light & bright when the raw paint color dries.

Sorry about the blurry picture, it’s the only one I shot before I started waxing it.  Though the picture is blurry, I wanted to show you how light the color looks before you wax it.  My uncle was like “huh?” but this piece turned out to be one of his absolute favorites after it was waxed.

Waistcoat is absolutely gorgeous when sealed with either American Paint Company’s Clear Wax or Dark Wax.

For this dresser, I created a wash by diluting the paint with water then spread on two ultra thin coats varying where I slapped the paint on so it would have some areas that were more heavily covered and others where the wood still showed through.  I did this ‘cuz that’s how I roll.

The top was really messed up, or so it appeared.  Come to find out, all the blemishes were within the existing clear coat.  A simple stripping and refinish was all it too to restore it to it’s original glory!  To learn how I strip my furniture, visit my post here.

I prefer to put my own personality into my pieces instead of copying what everyone else does.  How boring would it be if we all did the same thing?  Here’s a sneak peek of what Cathy created on her last Waistcoat piece (post on this piece to follow… Stay Tuned!!)

See what I mean when I say you can create so many different looks with with this color?  Cath is still working on her piece in this picture but the green has been sealed with Clear Wax.  Beautiful color but with an entirely different look than the piece I just did.  How cool is that?  I know, doesn’t take much to humor me.

Do you remember which color was the dominant color under the antique buffet I just refinished in Peacock???  If not, go back and take a look here.

It’s like the new black ~ works with just about anything!

Wait until you see the glazes you can create with Waistcoat!!

All I can say is I must not be the only one who’s fallen for Waistcoat.  This dresser wasn’t on the floor for  30 minutes before it sold.  Sad to see it go but happy to see it so appreciated by the recipient!

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 one of our super fun workshops.  Learn hands-on in a relaxed environment.  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 ~ 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).
• We have numerous Pinterest Boards  Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
• We  sell American Paint Company Paints & Supplies our of our Shizzle Design Paint Studio (headquarters) 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428 as sell as several other locations in the greater Grand Rapid’s area.  Click LOCATIONS to find out where we’re located.  We also ship the paint domestically and internationally through our Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

 

I’m super excited to share with all of you, my favorite piece to date!

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m about as scattered as they come.  I drive myself bonkers on most days because my mind is always going in a million different directions.  I’m REALLY good at starting projects and can multi-task with the best of them, problem is… I’m HORRIBLE at getting it all finished.  Maybe I fuss with stuff too much and maybe if I didn’t have so many things to work on all at once, I could do better.

They all get finished eventually, what can I say?
Continue reading “Peacock Buffet with Rich Layers of Color”

Cathy and I are honored to be one of this year’s key presenters at West Michigan’s Women’s Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 14-16.

Here’s a Sneak Peek of Some of the Pieces FIRST Available at the Expo!

See us on Stage!

Cathy and I will be on stage three times daily to discuss why we love American Paint Company’s all natural Chalk & Clay based mineral paints while we demonstrate and share some of the cool things you can do with the products.

Shizzle Design Main Stage Schedule

Friday, March 14 ~ 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 15 ~ 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 16 ~ 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Watch as we Transform Furniture During throughout the Show

Try Our Products Out During the Show!

Meet Our Team!

We are blessed to have several fabulous friends, customers and artists and another retailer volunteering their time to help out during the show.  These gals aren’t just talented, THEY ARE ALL A HOOT!  With all of us together in one place, it’s no telling what could happen!

 GOT PAINT? 

We’ll have all our American Paint Company paints & finishes at the show!

Receive a Free Gift if you Register for a Workshop During the Show

Enter to WIN one of Several Great Prizes!

 See you at the show ~ March 14-16

NEED TICKETS?  Tickets for the West Michigan Women’s Expo are $9 at the door.  There are coupons available in the Great Deal’s Magazine, On the Town and in the Grand Rapid’s Magazine.  Meijer is also offering special pricing on tickets.

Enter to WIN Online! 

Can’t make it to West Michigan’s Expo?  

Enter to win one of the new colors from American Paint Company’s Ellis Collection!(domestic U.S. only).  To enter, click:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 one of our super fun workshops.  Learn hands-on in a relaxed environment.  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 ~ 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).
• We have numerous Pinterest Boards  Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
• We  sell American Paint Company Paints & Supplies our of our Shizzle Design Paint Studio (headquarters) 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428 as sell as several other locations in the greater Grand Rapid’s area.  Click LOCATIONS to find out where we’re located.  We also ship the paint domestically and internationally through our Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

This past fall, we lost our grandmother and inherited several pieces of furniture.  Cathy, aloong with my aunt and uncle spent a grueling afternoon in a horrible snow storm moving everything out of her place then hauled it all across town in an open bed trailer to our new Shizzle Shop.  

When I first saw the bedroom set, I thought “What the heck are we supposed to do with that?”  Sometimes even I second guess being able to transform a piece of furniture.  I should know better by now!  Cathy was too swift for me to catch a “before” picture with the enormous hardware but just removing that alone, made a huge difference.

I’m guessing this set is from the 70’s by the straight lines and retro just stumps me every time.  Don’t get me wrong, the pieces were in top notch shape and very solid, I just couldn’t see past the faux white and gold finish and the straight lines.

No worries ~ Cathy had a plan.  We had just received our first shipment of the Ellis Collection, a limited edition of 12 fabulous new colors from American Paint Company.  They’re so awesome!  If you missed all of them, you can check them out here.  They’re sold in pints and they are absolutely fabulous!

One of my absolute favorites, and I know I’m not alone on this one (we can barely keep it in stock) is Peacock.  This blue is so rich and thick and perfectly pigmented that the possibilities are endless.  I’m not kidding.  We’ve created so many different looks with it and I’ve seen plenty more pieces painted by others and everything I’ve seen is spectacular!

In a matter of minutes, Cathy had given that old dresser an entirely new look.  Isn’t the color fabulous???   She must not have been finished because before I could blink, she had painted on a stencil and transformed it even more with brand new hardware.  I couldn’t get over the transformation!

This piece has made it’s way to our booth within Not So Shabby in Holland, Michigan.  There  is also a long dresser and headboard if anyone is interested in the entire set.  Those haven’t been painted yet but Cath said she’d be happy to paint them to match.

Check out other gorgeous colors from the Ellis Collection here and if you’d like to see them in person, stop by our Shizzle Design Paint Studio in Jenison, MI or one of the other locations where we retail American Paint Company Paints.  You’ll also be able to check out the entire American Paint Company line on March 14-16 at this year’s Women’s Expo in downtown Grand Rapids.

We are very humbled to announce that we were asked to be one of this year’s key presenters during the show.  Save the date then join Shizzle Design and several other amazing artists who’ll be helping out during the show.  Stay tuned for all the exciting details!!

See you soon!!

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 one of our super fun workshops.  Learn hands-on in a relaxed environment.  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?).
• We have numerous Pinterest Boards?  Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan?
• Shizzle Design is an American Paint Company’s Chalk/Clay/Mineral Paints in Jenison, Calidonia, Hudsonville & Holland, MIchigan 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

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

 

This petite French buffet was painted for our Shizzle Design office but we sold a couple large pieces at Not So Shabby and had to fill the void.  So much for decorating our own place; everything else takes priority.  

I started out as I always do by giving her a good cleaning.

I gave her a base coat of American Paint Company’s Wild Horses, my go to color for base coating.  The color looks off in this picture but it’s a deep rich brown which looks fabulous alone or layered with any other color.

Don’t let the delicate shape and petite size fool you ~ this thing is heavy! 

It was in tip top condition with the exception of some messed up spots on the top.  No worries ~ a little added texture took care of that.  I dumped Home Plate, Rushmore and Smoke Signal in a paint tray (aka, leftover container :D) and slapped the colors on any which way.  I use the same brush while I do this and dip into whichever color(s) I need as I go along.

To build even more dimension, I went over everything with a wash of Desert Cactus to pull in the extra warmth it needed to coordinate with the wall color in our office.  I sealed it with clear wax, working in sections so I could pounce American Grit into the finish while the wax was still wet.

American Grit is so much fun to play with and adds so much more to textured finishes!

I love how the grit settles into all that texture! 

I have to apologize for the quality of my pictures lately.  It’s been such a horribly cold winter that most of my pictures have been taken indoors under fluorescent lighting and I don’t know how to correct it.  If anyone is willing to share ideas on how to correct this when I shoot indoors, that would be awesome!

We’re clearing out all remaining CeCe Caldwell’s Paints Inventory at rock bottom prices both online at our Shizzle Shop and locally in our Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan.  

 We pulled everything else from our other shops this past week to make room for our growing inventory of American Paint Company Paints.

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?).
• We have numerous Pinterest Boards?  Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan 49424?
• 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

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly