My HOPPY FRIEND, Monday, March 30, 2015

 I went to the Post Office the other day and picked up a VERY heavy box.  I could NOT imagine what was in it, but I couldn't wait to get out my scissors and open it!

 I was BLOWN away!  It was the awesome bunny noodle board that I had watched my friend, Lynn from Painting Thyme Needfuls, painting over the past few days.  My package was PACKED full of goodies from the Cape.

She put a candle, dog treats for Charcoal, candy, Chocolate, and patterns that she had designed!  I could NOT wait to get them cut out and painted.

First, I had to find the perfect place to put the treasure.  I chose to place it on the washstand that is a family antique.  My Mother refinished it YEARS ago, when THAT was the thing~~NOW you are NOT supposed to touch antiques.  

On this washstand are some china pieces that belonged to My Aunt Jenny.  She PROBABLY bought them with stamps or got them from the bank of maybe even from Oatmeal...we are not sure, but they are beautiful and remind me of her.

There is also a Chinese Rice Bowl that has a butterfly, a symbol that was so important to Mother, that was given to her by her dear friend, VV, when VV was cleaning her Mother's home after her death.  It was VERY special to mother.

The Rose bowl is another antique given to Mother by a friend.

The moustache cup was a funny story that Mother would tell with a twinkle in her eye.  When a friend, Mrs. Johnson, who was the first woman judge in Robertson County, was having to sell her home to move to a smaller place, she asked Mother if there was anything in her house that Mother wanted to buy BEFORE the auction...We went over and Mother bought a HUGE mirror and a loveseat.  While there, Mrs. Johnson asked Mother if she would be willing to buy the cup at the auction since it had belonged to her Daddy and she wanted it to go to someone special.  Mother agreed...she took it home for $25, which was a HUGE amount for Mother to spend on something so unnecessary back in the 60s...

It was only fitting that I should place this NEW treasure on this wash stand because NOW I have another special story to share...Thank you Lynn!!

I gathered my supplies to start this project.

I stained some tags to hang on the bunny...

I used coffee, vanilla and cinnamon...

I painted the bunny with RUSTIC Chalky Finish paint.  I sanded it offer after I had a good coverage.  I then put wax on the piece.  When that dried, I put Golden Brown Creme Wax on to make the exposed wood darker...I WISH I had the darker wax, but this turned out just fine...it gave another texture to the piece...

I am SO BLESSED to be able to cut my own wood...NORMALLY, I would NOT have cut this with the knot, but since I knew it would have a bow and I was going to make it look prim, it was ok THIS time...I DID put sealer over the knot...

I sanded the piece really well before I painted it...EVEN if I am going to PRIM something, I STILL want the foundation to be the best it can be!

I put 3 coats of paint on the from so the coverage would be good...I KNOW, some think that is silly since it was going to be sanded, but I just stick to the theory of a good foundation makes a better product!  That is my story and I am sticking to it!

I added a burlap bow, rusty wire, rusty bells and a tag...

I LOVE this pattern!!!

You may order the pattern as an

 INSTANT DOWNLOAD ON ETSY.

This gift has meant the world to me...it is just an example of how special a serendipitous moment can be!

Miss Lynn, YOU ARE SomeBUNNY VERY SPECIAL...

A Friend LOVES at ALL time...Proverb 17:17 NIV

PLEASE PAY IT FORWARD every chance you get...Blessings to YOU...~charlotte

Art Challenge, Day 3, Tuesday, January 27, 2015

This is DAY 3 of the Art Challenge.

Today, I share the reason I got on Facebook…A friend told me I NEEDED to join because EVERY business in town is on and it could help me…

WELL, once again, keeping the theme of BEING LATE, I got on Facebook in 2013, but it has opened doors for me and friendships beyond belief.  My desire was to help get my pattern business going, but I have gained so much more through the friendships that I have made and the support and encouragement that I so needed after a difficult time in my life…

I am sharing 3 of my favorite patterns…ALL of these are painted with MY FAVORITE paints...DecoArt Americana. GO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE to see their wonderful products and their projects to inspire you.  You will ALSO find a list of shading/highlighting charts and other helpful files under LEARN.

The Heart is my newest pattern…The front of this pattern is what I shared on my last post...This original piece is NOW at my friend's house in New York...

the Bunny is my first Painting with Friends Pattern…

and the scarecrow and crow are doing my FAVORITE pastime~~sitting around and eating!  LOL…

All of my patterns are available as instant downloads in  MY ETSY SHOP

BE an ENCOURAGER...Leave someone a NICE note for no reason at all...LET people know that you are thinking of them...Blessings to YOU...~charlotte♥