This used to be a shiny black ceramic urn…I gave it 2 coats of Italian Ivory Paint Couture and then glazed it with Light Brown Sugar and Champagne.
It’s much prettier now than it used to be !!!
Paint Couture! Covers a Ceramic Urn Very Nicely Indeed
Tag: The Whistling Elk
Nominated for the Liebster Blog Award!
Wow, I wasn’t thinking about blog awards…so Dani, from Teddy and Tottie, you have just completely blown me over with this! Thank you for enjoying my blog and for nominating me for this honor. I am having fun with this!
The award nomination gives me the option to share eleven facts about me, answer eleven questions asked by Dani (who nominated me) and to nominate eleven blogs which I love for the Liebster award. Then, I follow up with providing a list of eleven questions for my nominees to answer if they choose to participate in accepting their Liebster award, and it goes on and on from there…
So if you were nominated by me, and wish to participate, here are the rules:
1. Publicly thank the person that nominated you
2. Tell eleven things about yourself
3. Answer the eleven questions asked of you, and, in turn, make eleven questions for your own eleven nominees.
4. Link to those eleven nominees, and tell them about it at their blogs.
5. Don’t forget to copy and paste the award button to your blog
Here are eleven facts about me:
1. I love numerology and eleven is a master number, so I like that this process involves a lot of elevens.
2. I miss my dog, Katie.
3. I am really creative but I am also good at very analytical tasks too– I find this to be such a paradox!
4. I love beautiful sunny days with fabulously blue clear skies!
5. I love strawberries or raspberries in champagne.
6. I love skiing in Vail, Colorado and I would love to go there and see it in the summer.
7. Even though I have my bachelor’s degree and two additional years of interior design schooling– I love school and learning, so I would go back in a heartbeat.
8. I love to bake bread.
9. Billy Blanks is my favorite exercise buddy!
10. I love Paris and cannot wait to go back to Les Puces.
11. I wish I had more time to travel. I love seeing new things and staying in fabulous hotels!
Here are answers to eleven questions, asked by Dani:
1. Are you a dog or cat person?
I love both cats and dogs and usually have both. Right now I am in between dogs, so I just have two cats. I would have a hard time choosing between a cat and a dog!
2. Are you more of a book reader or a DVD watcher?
I am definitely a book reader. I love to read and I love beautiful design books– I own a ton. In fact, I very rarely use DVD’s. I think the only one I have watched in the last year is Billy Blanks…my favorite exercise buddy!
3. Name three goals you have in life.
Ever since I was in the corporate world, it was a goal of mine to help other women. As a Corporate VP in the 80’s, I did as much as I could for other women coming up. In my home furnishings business it’s a little different, but I try to help women have a beautiful environment to live in! That is probably the goal that I have most consistently pursued in my life. Any other goals I have are more short-term. I usually sit and think about what I want to accomplish during a certain time period and then write it down. I check the list now and then, and more often than not, I am able to check off things that have been accomplished. One example is that I wanted to learn to bake my own bread, which I have accomplished. Another one is that I wanted to read a book that I could only obtain in French, so my goal is to translate it. I am still working on this one. Right now, I desperately want to return to Paris, so I am working on reaching that goal!
4. What is your favourite meal?
I love lobster tails!
5. What is your favourite colour?
This is tough one…there are so many beautiful colors. Right now, believe it or not, I am into grey – with a hint of blue in it. I just painted my whole house a color called Stonington Grey and I love it.
6. What do you love about blogging?
Blogging is a great way to share with others, and I like that. I enjoy beautiful pictures and my blog is geared toward sharing beauty!
7. What is your favourite holiday destination?
I love to ski in Vail, Colorado and go every year with my family. We always go in January just after the holidays and I look forward to it!
8. What are your top five TV shows?
I am not much of a television watcher. I consistently watch the Wild Channel because I love the animals, and any program that involves archeology. I love Fox News and pretty consistently watch the O’Reilly Factor. I sometimes watch Mad Men when I can remember when it runs, and I love old movies, so I watch Turner Classic Movies when I can. Oh, I almost forgot… I love the Food Channel.
9. What are your hobbies or passions?
My passion is my business. I love beautiful things and I get to own the most beautiful home furnishings and furniture, until it sells. Then, I get to buy something else to enjoy for a while. I work a lot so I don’t have hobbies….but I love to paint furniture as part of my business, and that is fun! I am passionate about design and love helping my customers with their homes.
10. You are at the world’s greatest theme park – do you go on every scary ride they offer, choose a select few scary rides, go on the merry-go-round and eat fairy floss or watch others go on scary rides?
I would love to ride on a beautiful merry-go-round, but I would also do a scary ride or two. It would be fun to scream in glee!
11. Do you have a nickname?
Hmmm, no…I don’t!
Now that I’ve told you enough about myself, it’s time for me to nominate eleven beautiful blogs for the Liebster Award:
1. All Things Shabby and Beautiful
2. Blue Pueblo
3. The Enchanted Cove
4. Bite Size Canada
5. Silly Monkey Photo
6. L’Essenziale Home Designs
7. Bread and Olives
8. Inspired Design
9. Shabby and Charme
10. Cook Lisa Cook
11. Call Me Cupcake
Here are eleven questions I’ve created for my nominees:
1. Where in the world would you visit if you were handed a blank ticket?
2. How many states have you visited in the United States?
3. Describe a really good day.
4. Do you enjoy cooking? If so, what is your specialty?
5. Do you love your job? What do you like about it?
6. Do you wear a watch?
7. Do you have a favorite author or book?
8. What got you started blogging?
9. What are your life goals?
10. What is your favorite animal?
11. What is your passion in life?
The Whistling Elk Redesigns the Paris Boudoir
Just rearranged our Paris Boudoir at The Whistling Elk. I changed the floorplan so that I had more room to showcase all the great merchandise that we are showcasing in this room…including our Pine Cone Hill Bedding and our Bedford Cottage Throw Blankets. This is something you should think about at home…changing the floorplan in a room can make the difference between hohum and spectacular. Everything in its right place!!!!
I also made a little more wall space available for our artwork. Loving this new set up!
Lampe Berger Creates Mood at The Whistling Elk
If you shop at The Whistling Elk then you know how much we love Lampe Berger. When you enter the shop the first thing you will often notice is the great scent that wafts thru the air…mmmmm Of course its our Lampe Berger! Three things can really improve a design space – beauty for the eye, good music for the ear and scent for the nose – pleasing the eyes, ears and nose will create a design mood that makes you happy!
Check out our beautiful new display for this fabulous product. Lampe Berger was kind enough to send this new fixture to showcase their product…It’s amazing how the lampes sparkle under the lighting – the only thing better than how beautiful the lampes look is the fact that they purify the air and scent it!!!!
Vintage Book Stack at The Whistling Elk
Just looking at this stack of vintage books makes me smile!
I love to use groupings like this when decorating. They look great on a table or in a bookcase although this stack happens to be sitting on a mantel.
This line of vintage, decorated books is new to The Whistling Elk – a few strategically placed will start a conversation and add a little inspiration to your interior design!
Uttermost Rugs Grace the Floors of The Whistling Elk!
Uttermost is only the latest addition to The Whistling Elk’s carpet offerings. For many years we have offered Nourison carpets – the one shown below is from the Heritage Hall Collection.
And, we also carry Loloi Rugs like the one pictured below which is from the Elmwood Collection.
When i find a very special One-of-a-Kind carpet I like to bring it into the shop…like the 8×10 below from Capa Imports. The colors are very unusual and i love the pattern.
Carpet should be in your design plan can really finish a room and Uttermost carpets are reasonably priced…we have samples and a full catalog!
The Whistling Elk Introduces Paint Couture
We introduced our new Paint Workshops for furniture and accessories about a month ago…and now we will be teaching those classes with Paint Couture. Its a great line of Paint, Glazes and Finish Coats. We love it!
The glazes are amazing – I am especially loving the metallics!
Next time you are looking to change your decor or room design – think Paint Couture!
Paint Couture! at The Whistling Elk
I just picked up my new sign last night…it’s very elegant! It’s all very exciting! This is a great paint – its a low VOC, water-based paint, available in 32 colors. Paint Couture! is a self priming, décor, furniture and cabinet paint. It has a great adhesion capability to existing painted or varnished surfaces. With Paint Couture! there is usually no sanding and no priming (though there are exceptions). It lays on very flat with little to no brush marks. The dry finish look is a matt finish. A Glaze, Finish Topcoat, or Wax is recommended after the paint has cured – and the glazes in this line are spectacular!! Not kidding here i am in love with the Champagne and the new Verdi.
We will be painting with some of the Paint Couture! paints and glazes tonight at the DIY Paint Workshop at The Whistling Elk. If you like painted furniture you will love this paint for your home decor projects!!
Finishing Up a Few Paint Details Before the Chester Craft Show
I am working on a table right now with nice architectural details…cant wait to see it finished!
Tomorrow is the spring Chester Craft Show…We are going to showcase some of our painted furniture during the show. You can also sign up for our Paint Workshops…the next one is June 13th at 5:30 pm. Call for more information 908-879-2425. Space is limited so you must register and leave a $50 deposit.
These are fun informal workshops! The June 13th class will cover chalk paint paint finishes and introduce Paint Couture! our new acrylic paints…in total you will learn 5 different finishes and leave thinking about all the great things you are going to do with furniture you have in the garage or basement. You will be creating masterpieces…
The top of this piece is actually going to be black…and i have a lot more gold to apply. Its going to be stunning! And to think it was stashed in the basement…
Finishing Up a Few Paint Details Before the Chester Craft Show
I am working on a table right now with nice architectural details…cant wait to see it finished!
Tomorrow is the spring Chester Craft Show…We are going to showcase some of our painted furniture during the show. You can also sign up for our Paint Workshops…the next one is June 13th at 5:30 pm. Call for more information 908-879-2425. Space is limited so you must register and leave a $50 deposit.
These are fun informal workshops! The June 13th class will cover chalk paint paint finishes and introduce Paint Couture! our new acrylic paints…in total you will learn 5 different finishes and leave thinking about all the great things you are going to do with furniture you have in the garage or basement. You will be creating masterpieces…
The top of this piece is actually going to be black…and i have a lot more gold to apply. Its going to be stunning! And to think it was stashed in the basement…
A little decorative painting to brighten up a dreary day
Its a pretty dreary Tuesday in Chester…so i am happily painting away!
Some random stenciling has made this tray more interesting…it’s also been painted with Paint Couture! Italian Ivory. Later it will get a glaze of Glaze Couture! Metallic Champagne. This is a very pretty glaze that i have been playing with!
We will paint with some of the Paint Couture!® paints and glazes during our next 2 Paint Workshops on June 13th and June 20th at The Whistling Elk. I have been playing with the paint for the last week…even crackling it with good results!
I have a can of Paint Couture!® Italian Ivory
So i am trying it out on my pretty french commode. I used it on the body and the top of the commode – Liking very much! It paints on nicely and distresses easily…
Looking around The Whistling Elk now to see what else i can paint!
Let the furniture speak
Just painted and stencilled this little magazine table. It was a solid silver/gold/black mix of color all over – rather a dark look to it. I decided to paint the top first and then see if the rest needed to be touched. It’s so funny how furniture talks to you and tells you what it wants.
Stencilling with metallic silver is a departure for me since i am such a “gold” girl. But with this piece i thought it would work so i used it over annie sloan’s old white chalk paint. I am very happy with it! The old white really lightened up the piece and i am thinking that i am done…we’ll see what the client thinks!
I guess my desk will never by the same
I havent been here for awhile…but it wasnt that i didnt want to be!
I have been crazy BUSY…
my desk looks like this almost every day now!
Ive been painting everything!
The first two paint workshops that we had here in early May only served to inspire me more…everyone was so creative. It was fun…so i have scheduled two more workshops one on June 13 and one on June 20th. Both will run from 5:30 to 8:30 pm…
Heres a little table that started out just plain white. Its wearing a coat of Versailles with some metallic gold trim. What a beautiful color. I crackled the top and clear/dark waxed the whole thing…LOVING.
<
I am awaiting a package from a new paint company…cant wait to get it to experiment. Its pretty cool and i am hoping to add it to the mix here. Stay tuned.
Pine Cone Hill Bedding
While it was raining yesterday i worked in the Paris Boudoir…arranging the beautiful Pine Cone Hill Bedding…
I love this bedding because it is both beautiful and affordable.
It’s perfect for our Paris Boudoir here at The Whistling Elk
It’s cold and rainy outside
I wish i still had this comfy hancock and moore sofa to curl up on today!
Our First Paint Workshop is Scheduled
This table is finished…yesterday i mixed some Annie Sloan dark wax with mineral spirits (just a little) and brushed it all over the table top and base…rubbed most of it off, let it dry then sanded the piece all over with 600 paper, applied a thin coat of clear wax which was then buffed. Finis!
Our first Paint Workshop is going to be in May. Space is limited. The class will be held at The Whistling Elk in Chester, NJ…we have several time slots available…so call us if you would like to attend! 908-879-2425 Do you like the way it turned out?
Gotta Love Those Good Bones
Today i started working on this round table. It has what i call “good bones” – that is architecture that sings! (to me anyway).
it was completely black with an oak grain to it. I covered the whole table with Old Oche Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. When it dries, i am going to hit it again with another coat.
I want to make sure i cover the black with a good solid coat of paint!
Tomorrow i am going to give it yet another coat…but of pure white. The Whistling Elk is turning into my own private paint workshop where it seems every day now something is being newly designed…
I just found a great ceiling medallion stencil that i am going to tailor to fit the top of this table. Ooh la la! This table is going to go in our Paris Boudoir when complete and will feel so soft and elegant that it will be unrecognizable. Can’t wait til the next step tomorrow!
Do you feel like painting yet?
I like to live dangerously while painting
It is not unusual for me to live dangerously and just start painting on a piece at home without actually clearing it off…lucky for me that i am a neat painter!
I have owned this beautiful bookcase for many years. It is pine and was imported from Europe and just brie waxed and left in its natural state. Up for a change in my home decor I decided that i would paint the outside shell of the piece and give it a new design. The Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray paint on the wall was my inspiration. So here it is with its first coat of Annie Sloan Paris Grey. I painted the sides and the front facing edges.
After this dried, I painted Olde White on the parts that i considered trim. You cant see them in the picture but at the bottom of the bookcase there are 2 drawers…these i painted as trim also.
The piece remained like this for several days as i had to wait for another day off. But actually i could have stopped here – it was simple and pretty and looked great in the room.
Meanwhile i was rummaging in my stencil collection and found one that i could run down the front side edges…so i kept going.
I clear waxed the piece then dark waxed it, rubbed off the excess and sanded it down to distress it.
I also gilded the beaded trim and the stenciled trim on the front sides and the crown.
I thought i was done but I think i will do some trim work on the drawers…but that will have to wait for another day off from The Whistling Elk.
There is an old hole about the wood knob and i am thinking that i can paint a fabulous “lock” above the knob. This too will have to wait for another day.
Yesterday i was on a painting rampage
While i worked on painting the little stool I was also painting on some small boxes…then as i had the Annie Sloan paints open i decided to experiment with the inside of my pantry closet. I am working up to painting all my kitchen cabinets but that will have to wait for another day off from The Whistling Elk.
On the back and side walls of the closet i used provence and then on the shelves used duck egg. Love the subtle contrast! (I think my kitchen chandelier is throwing an interesting pattern on the shelves for a little play on light and shadows.)
I only did one section because i only had a very little Provence…but i will have to get more because i love the way it turned out. The room is Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray so these two colors work wonderfully well as an accent.
I still have plenty of the duck egg so i guess i will finish this project after i go shopping for more paint. Meanwhile i was also working on my old pine bookcase. More pix on that later!
The Whistling Elk 
Recent Comments