FLoWeR PoWeR Happy Hour!

Several girlfriends and I got together yesterday for a FLoWeR PoWeR Happy Hour -- that almost turned into a PoWeR Outage Happy Hour due to the all the storms that rolled through the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex yesterday. 

I had to share some great pictures of some of the creations -- Hope it inspires you to gather some friends and stretch your creative limbs.  At the end of the evening, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation and, hopefully, a newfound talent! 

The social aspect of getting together to create your table decorations is a such a BONUS!   Let's face it, we ALL Like to "Set a CUTE Table" even if what we are serving is carry-out! 

 

Take time to 'fiddle' with your arrangement until it makes you SMiLE!  Here our friend Jamie is 'getting jiggy with it' because she said it was 'wonky'.     

Wonky looks good Jamie!

She stands back for a 'once over' and . . .

Gives it the 'good enough' and proceeds to clean up her 'workspace'.  Tee hee, I am sure she is thinking "What?  I didn't see her taking pictures of me!  Darn that Susie Mrs V!"

Another Easy way we planned to add a bit of SPRING to our table -- Green Raffia with faux floral -- tied to a candleholder. 

The 'Soda Glass' Containers were a STEAL one day within my online store.  I post these incredible savings like these on my Facebook Page -- so if you like DEALS you'll want to be a fan.  There is so much versatility in these containers that we came up with several ideas in which to utilize them!

Terri adds texture to her container . . .

. . . but sometimes a little hot glue couldn't hurt!

Another beautiful centerpiece in the making --- while I SPY Tracie sticking out her tounge  (must help her creative coordination!)

Tracie & Terri are co-hosting an Easter Celebration!

Together they created a beautiful look -- using 2 Peep arrangements with Daffodils (getting ready to open) and the Willow House Lady Jane Bottleneck Vase with Gerbera Daisies.  FUN!

More Peeps!

JELL-O as a centerpiece? Why Not!

I am ALWAYS looking for inexpensive ways to fill glass containers -- so you will see several posts from me on this.  I gave myself a challenge when I saw this idea on Pinterest -- and it worked!  Our wheels are turning on different ways to incorporate JELL-O in centerpieces -- so Stay tuned! 

•  For this arrangement -- we all agreed that sprinkling a few daisy petals on TOP of the jiggly JELL-O would add the must needed texture.  I apologize for not 'lighting my wick', because it looks pretty when the candle is burning.  ALSO -- I made this JELL-O arrangement 10 days ago -- talk about your Make-ahead-arrangements!

I really should do a video post on this. 

Fake Faux flowers take on a more realistic look under water.  So yank off the flower heads and put them under glass or water and light a candle on top.

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You can't go wrong with Tulips in the Willow House Parkside Hurricane -- love this piece!

The Daffodils are opening up beautifully today -- the storms have passed and we are looking forward to a Fabulous Easter!

When I went out to snap this picture I disturbed a few turtle doves . . .
Second shot taken a few minutes later from inside the house.
I tossed out a bit of paper shred for the lovelies and they are back to building their nest and prepping for a family!

Happy Spring!
Please share with me if you and friends host your own FLoWeR PoWeR Happy Hour -- I'd love to hear!

My Introduction to Annie Sloan

A few weeks ago, I was UBeR Excited to attend the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint,  ASCP, workshop in Dallas, TX and meet the gracious Annie Sloan herself.

A completely wonderful experience!  Annie is pure delight.  She is a wealth of information about paint, color, design history, art  -- and she presented so much information that we all just sat back and absorbed it all!  She has so many wonderful ideas and her creativity just oozes. 

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She is currently in America on tour and Dallas, Tx was one of her stops for her hands on workshops -- YiPPee SKiPPee!

I was first introduced to Annie's paints through Miss Mustard Seed and I was very anxious to learn various techniques and put them 'to work'.

'Back in the Day' I sold hand-painted furniture in the cultural district of Fort Worth (a hobby really - preMom years). I am anxious to work with 'today's cutting edge materials' and pick up my brushes again.  

Annie loves color!  And teased when someone asked if she might be coming out with a true black paint (currently chalkpaint comes in a beautiful graphite that can be darkened when used with the dark wax) . . . part of her response was that she sees so many painting their furniture black in America -- I blame Pottery Barn.  She may be right!

If you ever have the chance to attend one of her events or pop into her shop in Oxford, England, to meet her, you definitely should.

I attended the workshop alone, but made many friends and contacts throughout the day.  The hands-ons portion was fantastic, especially since I haven't worked with chalkpaint before. These classes were kept small enough so we could all go around and see each other's work -- and everyone's finished projects turned out differently, since we put our own spin on the techniques being taught.  Fun! 

There were many professional designers, interior decorators, hobbiest and homemakers from all over Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas in attendance.  Everyone was very forthcoming on their experience and I left feeling like I spent a long weekend in the company of women who create, though it was just a day. 

There were only women in our particular workshop, though 1 of Annie's 3 sons accompanied her on this leg of the tour.  Perhaps because Annie herself says of her paint 'this is girls' paint, (but boys can use it too)'.    The paint itself is wonderfully creamy, highly pigmented and perfect for painting on furniture -- but it seems to sticks to everything!  Many talked about their experience painting floors, upholstered furniture (leather and fabric), metal, appliances(!), stone, brick and more!



If you’d like to get to know Annie better, you can follow her on her blog, Paint & Colour, or connect with her on the ASCP FaceBook Page and pick up a couple of her fabulous books!

Annie graciously shared so much with us and allowed us to take many many pictures. She has more books coming out within the year -- so be on the lookout. 


Some of the material she presented in her seminar will be included in her new workbooks. I for one cannot wait!  Stay tuned as I post some of my ChalkPaint Projects -- there will be many to share :)

I would love to hear your experience with chalkpaint and if you are considering giving it a try!  Thanks so much for stopping by :)

We Have A WiNNeR -- or I should say WinnerS!

The response to my first Blog GiveAway was overwhelming -- and I have YOU to Thank!  Given the amount of responses I received I decided to include 2 Great Goodies in my Willow House Birthday GiveAway :::

• The Botanica Tiered Planter ($145 Value)

~and~

• A $75 Willow House Product Credit

(towards ANY of Willow House's fabulous Style for Home -or- Jewelry by Sara Blaine items)

So . . . the WinnerS are

• Botanica Tiered Planter now belongs to Marie Lochhead

and

• a $75 Willow House product goes to Bella of weheartDIY

I will contact each winner directly to ensure they get their goodies!!

~

THANK YOU for all the wonderful entries (and birthday wishes ☼ it was a fabulous day by the way).  Watch for MORE incredible give-aways happening during April. 

I think we all deserve to treat ourselves (or a special lady in our life) to some special treats before Mother's Day . . . don't you!