Moving In

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So last weekend my awesome Dad helped me (I mean I sorta helped him) build a false wall for large scale mural work and four 4'x8' rolling work tables with storage underneath.  It was so hot and humid I think we sweated out more than we drank.  A big thanks to my Mom for packing a cooler full of ice cold drinks, lunch, and beer for the end of the day. I have to say its a little too convenient to be within walking distance of Main Street Ellicott City because I found myself down at the Judge's Bench and the Phoenix a few times after working.  Oops! Materials being delivered.

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Mikey and my Dad putting up studs...or being studs...?

Things are progressing and I have moved all of my paints in. (a feat unto itself...I could open a paint store!) My mom and I went shopping at Costco for new shelves.  I was on the fence about bringing my old shelving, it was pieced together...ikea, home depot, dumpster finds...but my heart won out and I got five beeutiful chrome rolling shelves. (They're gorgeous!!!!!) I looove organizing and so I have a place for everything now and everything will eventually make it into its place.

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Taping away.

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Tables-Done!

I am still hemming and hawing about what to do with the "office". I know I want to turn it into a show space/lounge/client meeting area/paperwork space...I just can't figure out what to do with the walls!!  Its so easy when its someone else's space but when its mine I cant make a freaking decision! I just bought four stencils from Royal Design Studio so hopefully they will "speak" to me.

My neighbors are great. If you are in the area, Jack of Arts (who airbrushes cars, trucks, and anything else made of metal,) is two doors down and Bill Knapp, a sculptor, is in the next warehouse up the street.  Bill stopped in when I was taping my wall to see who was moving in.  And everyone I've talked with says I couldn't have picked better landlords.  The Klein's are the owners of West End Service and have been more than accommodating.  I really lucked out!!

Now if the weather would turn and I could stop sweating!

Stay tuned for when we will be having our grand opening.  It may be a whole weekend I'm that excited. WooHoo!!!!!

...and a big congratulations for my cousin Lauren and her beau Adam for making a commitment to getting hitched!!!  So happy! Lauren started her first year as a high school science teacher in Detroit and Adam is a very talented glass artist.

Old Line State

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So in response to all the Union Jack dressers I've seen lately, I've decided to fly my state's colors (well, sorta.) I found this dresser on craigslist a few months ago.

So on my week off from real painting I transformed it with some custom mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paints.  I decided to keep it tonal so that it would fit in more subtly with its surrounding decor.

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Feel free to contact me with any orders you may require! (Mikey won't let me sell this one cause "we never keep any cool stuff!")

(linked to Miss Mustard Seed and Elizabeth and Co.)

Proceed Workshop a Success

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In June I organized a Golden Proceed workshop for local International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL) chapters.  Members from Capital Area Decorative Artisans (CADA) and Greater Maryland Decorative Artisans (GMDA) gathered at GMDA's regular meeting place, the Howard County Center for the Arts, to learn about the Proceed line of Decorative Painting Products made by Golden Artist Colors from Lori Wilson, CS.  Budekes Paints and Decorating (who now stocks Proceed) helped make the event a success by providing lunch and prizes for attendees. We had a full class with artisans from Virgina, West Virginia, Maryland and even Pennsylvania in attendance!

The event had been in the works for quite some time. Last April 2011 I was talking with Lori Wilson and Howard Thaller at Salon in Atlanta about being able to buy Proceed locally.  I knew that my local paint store, Budekes, would be a perfect fit. It was just a matter of convincing them that they should carry the line.  I also wanted to be able to purchase product off the shelf that I use every day and not wait days for shipping.

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A year later, Budekes now carries Proceed and has been a great help with providing local decorative artisans and painters alike with exceptional products and service. Thanks Bryan!! (I don't get any money from Golden to promote Proceed, I just like their product and their philosophy.)

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Second Round

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A year ago I worked with the same client who had me complete a plethora of work for them.  This year I'm back for round two.  Previously I had painted columns, applied metallic plaster, and done some artwork for the children's rooms:

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This time, we focused on artwork for the stairwells and some for the master bedroom.  I also was asked to add to the children's room.  My last post I showed you how a painting evolves form a sketch to a final work.  That was for this client. Here are the other pieces for which I was commissioned. Hope you enjoy!

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cloud mural large

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tryptic

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sitting room

And...

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