Good To The Last Drop!
Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat
Everyday while chatting with customers we talk about how far a can of Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan will go. We tell you a quart will cover 150 sq ft and a sample pot will cover 18 sq ft, but its hard to imagine that as a dresser or sideboard or stool. So, we thought we would see just how far that 4oz sample pot could go! With that in mind we went searching in our stash of furniture for something that we thought would really stretch that theory to its limits.
To put things into perspective this bookshelf is 24″w x 29″h x 10″d and had originally been painted for a spring window display with Antibes and English Yellow. We were a little nervous, could we really cover these colours and this size with a scant 4oz of paint?
We hadn’t used Country Grey for anything in a while so that would be our colour! In between customers on a busy Saturday Elizabeth set to work with a small Annie Sloan paint brush and that little sample pot.
If you had any doubts just look at how well Country Grey Chalk Paint™ is covering that lovely bright green.
Fast forward about 15 minutes and lots of conversation about how well its covering Antibes and English Yellow, we have just about half a sample pot left and almost complete coverage! Wow is all I can say!
Within half an hour Elizabeth was able to start the second coat. Before she got started Elizabeth added a dribble of water to the pot, gave it a quick shake and got to work. With just a little more Country Grey we have complete coverage over the Antibes. The inside barely needed another coat as the English Yellow was almost completely covered, but what the heck we wanted to see just how far it would go!
There you go, like that old saying goes, its Good To The Last Drop!
The paint is still a little wet but in about 45 minutes we had 2 coats on this handy little bookshelf all with a 4oz sample pot of the best paint in the world, Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan! Once its dry we can finish off with a coat of Clear Soft Wax and maybe a little Dark Wax if the mood strikes us!
If you’d like more information about Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan or any of her fabulous products be sure to stop in the shop or give us a call. Interested in a workshop? We have a full description of all of our upcoming workshops in our Calendar. You can find your local stockist here.
Happy Painting
Melanie xo
If you’re in the neighbourhood stop in and visit our shop.
208 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton, Ontairo
289-389-9281
Two Years and Counting
Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat
This past weekend marks the second anniversary for The Painted Bench in Hamilton. My journey down this path made much more beautiful with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan started long before that.
For over twenty years I worked with several dance studios creating and sewing costumes. I loved working with the children and enjoyed being my own boss, but about four years ago I decided it was time to move on. Fortunately for me I thought that maybe my bedroom set could use some sprucing up and since I had some time on my hands I went searching for the perfect method for accomplishing that. It took a while but I finally stumbled upon a fabulous store called Diamonds & Toads in St Thomas, Ontario that sold Chalk Paint™ by someone called Annie Sloan! I spent the better part of an afternoon with Michelle Gallant, who was the most gracious hostess and answered all of my crazy questions. I left with my very first can of Old White and a can of Soft Wax knowing that some day soon I too would be selling Chalk Paint™ myself.
Opening day at The Painted Bench. May 3, 2013
I’m sure you all know where this is going, so fast forward to May 3rd, two years ago, to the day that Nicole and I opened the doors to our lovely little shop on Ottawa Street North. If you haven’t been to Ottawa Street in Hamilton you really should make the trip. It has a rich history as a fabric district all the way back to the early 1900’s and has grown to a street renowned for its fabric, home décor, antiques and trendy restaurants. It was a natural choice for me to locate a shop with upcycled and painted furniture and of course Chalk Paint™ on the street I have shopped on all my life!
Opening day at The Painted Bench. May 3, 2013
The style and layout of the shop has changed and evolved over the last two years and Nicole has her own lovely shop in Oakville now, so as expected things have changed while they have stayed the same. As I write this on the plane on my way to New Orleans for more Chalk Paint™ training, I can’t help but reflect on what the future holds for my wonderful staff and myself. In the upcoming months you can certainly expect new workshops, products and ideas, fabulous events on the street, and any number of surprises! One thing I know for sure is that you will continue to be the most important part of The Painted Bench, for without you we would not exist. So I will take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty and support and stay tuned for some wonderful things to come!
Melanie xo
Easy Peasy Smooth Finish
Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat
We really do love our Chalk Paint™ here at The Painted Bench and we love it even more when Annie Sloan creates a video using her decorative paint.
We have pretty rustic taste in the shop and use a lot of crackly, crusty & distressed finishes, but every once in a while someone asks for a smooth as butter finish. What you say? You can get a smooth finish with Chalk Paint™? We say of course you can!!!!
It really is very simple to create a lovely smooth finish by adding a little water to your paint and using one of Annie’s beautiful flat brushes. This is the perfect finish for all of the wonderful mid century modern pieces that are turning up at local thrift shops and garage sales.
Let’s take a look at how Annie Sloan guides us through the process of choosing and mixing a colour, painting a smooth finish and finally waxing with ease.
Part 1: Choosing Your Chalk Paint™ Colour
Part 2: Painting a Smooth Finish with Chalk Paint™
Part 3: Waxing a Smooth Finish
As I said, easy peasy! If you’d like to give this a try stop into the shop and we can get you started. The possibilities truly are endless with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan at The Painted Bench!
