Chalk Paint, Oh my.....

While in Victoria last week visiting a friend I stumbled across a wonderful store on Oak Bay Ave called French Vanilla.  I immediately fell in love with the painted furniture.  (Men, turn away, I am talking about painting wood!) The paint finishes were all lovely soft fresh colors, all done with chalk paint.  What!  a painted finish I haven't tried?  I purchased two tester pots, one in cream the other duck egg.  Check out Annie Sloan Chalk Paint here. Lovely!

When I got home I searched high a low for items I could paint (I wanted to do my dining table but alas I only had sample pots).  So an old metal table lamp that I had been thinking to spray paint black (yes, quite a jump I know) and a sort of tacky gold picture frame that was hanging around were my first victims.  They look GREAT in cream.  I'm showing the before pictures last because I always like to lead with the better photo!

I found this mirror on Oak Bay Ave as well in a consignment shop.  I think I paid $10 for it.  This really was a tacky gold frame but the mirror is in great shape and the detail work was pretty.

 It looks so good in the duck egg blue!  YIPPEE - that I just had to repaint over my cream picture frame.... much better :)
I purchased this little teapot trivet on my Coombs trip specifically to paint.

And here it is.... TADA.... using my very own homemade chalk paint.  I should say while the Annie Sloan paint is fantastic!!!  it is very expensive.  There are a ton of recipes for homemade chalk paint out there but I went with the simplest one I could find.  I had a 2oz tester of Benjamin Moore called Harbor Haze 2136-60.  I put 1 TBSP of plaster of paris in a glass jar, added 1 TBPS of hot water and mixed well, then added the 2 oz of paint and continued to mix until totally blended.  It has the same consistency as the Annie Sloan paint and went on the trivet perfectly.  The finishing touch for all chalk paint projects is waxing (this is what gives it the super smooth feel and the protection it needs).  The Annie Sloan wax was around $36 for 16oz and I am way too cheap for that so I have some Johnson paste wax coming from Ebay for $7. (can't find it anywhere on the Island) I can't wait.  If it all works out I'm mixing some sun dried tomato and painting my dining room table!

Sunday in Coombs

 I spent my last vacation day of the summer in Coombs, BC with my sister.  She is visiting from northern BC so really wanted to see some Island garden spots.  This is a great one!

 I love the little dish gardens of succulents.... so pretty

 And we had a fantastic lunch out on the very sunny patio

 Surrounded by potted chinese planters - full of trees and vines...

And the loveliest hydrangea I've ever seen!  It's called Invincibelle Spirit - the first pink Annabelle hydrangea.  I really have to find a spot for her in my garden!
What a lovely day.

I'm in a New York state of mind

 layer after layer of very cool tools in Picassa gets me this amazing rendition of my photo

 so of course - I have to try more.....

 If I can't be in New York in body - I can certainly be there in soul (anybody out there get that?)

 Oh, Yes!  this is what I'm talking about!

 blocks and blocks of blocks

And reality beckons (Sweetie yelling "what are you doing honey?)  Sigh, I'm going to New York... soon I hope....

let there be trees

I've never been to Europe but my camera has....  I think lending my sister my camera gives me license to play with her pictures too!  She took so many great photos in Amsterdam - this was not one of them (sorry Sis!)  a little tweak here and there.. and Yes, this is what it's supposed to be!

 Buildings are one of my favorite things... trees too, so building and trees, Yes!

 And who can resist the canals and trees?

 And the boats and trees...

 And a horse drawn carriage...(trees too)

 A lovely little corner cafe, bicycles everywhere.... I would be very happy to be here (even without trees)

Oh goody, more trees

Sigh.... a bridge.. over water... with bicyles.. and trees....beautiful

Summer in Victoria, BC

 Chinatown, Victoria, BC - the gates to Chinatown are pretty amazing

 Red silk lanterns dance over head

 a Favorite store on the ocean side of Chinatown, Chintz & Company is definitely worth a visit

 While Market Square has fallen upon somewhat hard times it houses one of our favorite restaurants Cafe Mexico

 Love the graffiti on this brick wall - and the peek-a-boo view through the old building facade

 These beauties are hanging all along the pub side of the Swans Hotel

What a great use for an old popcorn cart

Saturday snapshots

 Epimedium - brought out by just a hint of sun..

 this was supposed to be a yellow flowering rhododendron - I'd say it's cream....

 pretty in pink rhodo

 very berry red rhodo

 this gorgeous thing is a deciduous azalea, really a show off

 I would expect to see fairies dancing under this lovely specimen

 our native BC Dogwood tree

a little beauty, harts tongue fern, lives happily amongst the geraniums and ladies mantle