ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT-Have you used it?

I am interested in hearing responses from people who have purchased Annie Sloan Paint? Did you love it? Ease of use? Was it worth the money and would you purchase it again?

It looks beautiful!

Paris Gray with wax by Annie Sloan Paint

Furniture and image by Miss Mustard Seed .

Duck Egg Blue and Old White

Image via Annie Sloan.

Louis Blue and Old White.

Furniture and image by Miss Mustard Seed .

Aubusson and Old White.

Furniture and image by Miss Mustard Seed .

Old White	Country Grey	Paris Grey	Paloma
Old Ochre	Cream	Versailles	Arles
Emperor's Silk	Scandinavian Pink	Primer Red	Henrietta
Emile	Old Violet	Antibes Green	Duck Egg Blue
Provence	Louis Blue	Olive	Aubusson Blue
Greek Blue	Château Grey	Graphite Colors Available. Image via Annie Sloan.

Oh, for the love of Polyvore and Pinterest!

Pinterest and Polyvore are addicting!

I found Polyvore because I was asked by a good friend to help give her some ideas for her nursery. I am honored she asked and excited to help. I was thinking, "How am I going to show her any ideas I have?" Polyvore to the rescue! You just click on the wonderful icon "Clip to Polyvore" and there it is. So simple. I decided to practice and make one for my current project, Caleb's new bathroom. Here are my ideas. I already have the artwork! It is by John W. Golden. You can get the art straight from the artist at ETSY here. It is the same art at Land of Nod, but sold straight from the artist in multiple sizes!

You can check out every source in this inspiration board at Polyvore, here.

The Emporium at Kudzu Originals is Open!

I love this. I have made several.

emporium [ɛmˈpɔːrɪəm]

n pl -riums, -ria [-rɪə]

(Business / Commerce) a large retail shop offering for sale a wide variety of merchandise

[from Latin, from Greek emporion, from emporos merchant, from poros a journey]

The Emporium at Kudzu Originals is now open on ETSY! It has a been a journey getting there. Organizing my things, my thoughts and defining my style. Hence the name emporium, a JOURNEY with a WIDE variety of merchandise. Since my long hiatus from blogging, I have really tried to define what I love and what makes me happy. ( And strangely, a few graphic projects along the way!) I read a lot of other blogs and ripped images out of magazines. I love art, photography and interiors. I love old things. I love personalized items and monograms. I love handmade. I love making something from scratch. I must really like the color red and and blue. I love old furniture, french style and industrial. I love paint just out of the tube. I love Caleb's selection of crayon choices. I am learning how to LIVE with what I LOVE and make it all work together. The start of my ETSY store is a small sampling of what I like and hope you like too. Something small to add to your home or to give as a meaningful gift. And I guess if I do what I LOVE, then I will LOVE what I do!

The JOURNEY begins!

Here's to 2011..and some artistic resolutions!

Caleb's hand ornament.

I am itching to get a clean slate. To make some lists and start over new! This time of year it is like a fever hits and I want to get organized. I want my home to look like a picture out of that catalog. Oh wait! I have a one year old, two dogs, a new cat and a husband ( not in order of importance I might add!) And of course a ZILLION ideas to get started on. To make, to create! I am excited what the year will bring. And since I am lagging WAY behind, I thought I would post this super easy and fun piece to make with a family. And yes, that ETSY store will be coming soon. I just pulled out all my originals because I am going to have to part with some things. I can not hang art on every square inch of space of the wall as much as I would like to.

Hand print ornaments:

Supplies:

4 pack of clear glass balls ( Michaels)

1 spool of ribbon any color

White paint pen fine tip

Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint

Foam paintbrush 1 inch

Directions:

Since Caleb was 11 months old and he would rather put his hand covered in the green paint anywhere but the ornament, I enlisted Nathan's help. Do not sweat it if it does not come out perfect. That is the beauty of it. Use a heavy coat of paint on the hand and stick it on. Any mistakes come off with nail polish remover. After it dries use the white paint pen to design some snowflakes around the hand. I also put the date on the front and the person's name on the back. For example, To: Grandpa and Grandma From: Caleb. It dries quick.

Country Living Fair 2010 Stone Mountain, Georgia and Southern Living Idea House Senoia, Georiga

Southern Living Idea House 2010 Senoia, Georgia

Note the Christmas subway art.

Room at idea house. I like how they used the ceiling.

Earth Angels Art display

Some cool upholstery.

Close up junk market style places setting by Gorilla Glue.

Salvaged door knob used as a vase!

Table setting junk market style by Gorilla Glue.

Note the candleholder- all made from piping at Lowes.

Great idea by Rustoleum paint- Funkin pumpkin with chalkboard paint.

Good use for clearance pumpkins.

Gorgeous display of pumpkins at entrance. So festive.

The Country Living Fair was everything I thought it would be and more! There were so many cool vendors and sponsors at this event. Next year I think I will be a little more prepared with some definite things I have in mind for my house because it can get a little overwhelming with all the fabulous choices there are. I think my favorite purchase was a linen pillow for my antique library chair that has a ruler screen printed on it. It worked out perfect! I also got to shop from Jenni Bowlin's tent, a favorite scrapbook supplier and stocked up on some bingo cards. I got some great ideas at the Gorilla Glue tent on junk market style and some super paint ideas from Rustoleum. I was super excited about how to refinish some antique knobs with Rustoleum and came away with a great freebie from them as well that makes spray painting easier.

We also toured two great homes while we were in the area, The Southern Living Idea House in Senoia, Georgia and one of the new green houses designed by Country Living manufactured by New World Home. Now I will not claim I am interior designer or decorator, but it made me get excited about interiors when I saw the Idea House! I am also amazed at the Country Living house that is complete in 60 days and custom built. Beautiful and eco friendly. Senoia is so quaint and cute. We browsed a couple antique stores there and then ate lunch at the Redneck Gourmet down a couple feet from a scene from "Fried Green Tomatoes".

I could write a book about our wonderful trip and post a bunch of pictures of the fun we had!

Cool links:

Country Living Eco house 2010

Southern Living Idea House 2010

Rustoleum Paint Cabinet Hardware

Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain, Georgia

Jennifer Murphy Pom pom chicks. I want them all!

This is a beautiful piece of jewelery!

"She is the Party Starter" mixed media by Bonnie Taylor Talbot

The Country Living Fair is coming South for the first time! And I am so lucky to be able to go! I can't wait to see all the artists and go to the workshops. The Country Living festival is ..."a fun, folksy and fabulous Show & Sale of Folk Art, Antiques, "Made in America" Crafts, Art, Furniture, Home Decor & More. Meet the editors of Country Living Magazine. Plus Seminars & How-to's, Artisan Demonstrations, Harvest & Gourmet Market, Childrens' Activities & Fall Festivities. " Earth Angels will be there with several of their featured artists. I hope to do a lot of my Christmas shopping and find a few things for me too. Check out the link and the video. I am sure you will want to make this a must on your fall festivals to see! For information, click here!