Sunflower Cake Cover

Here is another cake cover I painted with chickens and sunflowers painted with Jo Sonja paints. The background is painted poppy orange with a knob wouldn't come off, so I use quick wood and molded leaves around it and a sunflower on top. I loved adding the dimension  with the quick wood. If you haven't tried it, it is real easy to use. I varnished it with Jo Sonja satin varnish, leaving the inside original so it is safe to use. Another recycled project completed.

Sugar and Spice Cake Cover

This is a Rosemary West design that I painted on a metal cake cover. After cleaning, priming, and base coating, I painted the cake cover with Jo Sonja paints and varnish. I took the handle off and added a gingerbread boy on a wooden disk to look like a cookie. This cake cover was very heavy, so I made sure the handle was very strong and secure. Wouldn't this make a wonderful Christmas gift?

Chicken Cake Cover

 

I wanted to show you a metal cake cover that I painted last year. I painted it with Jo Sonja acrylic paints with a black background and a green, orange, and yellow band on top. I changed the knob to a porcelain with the same colors that are on the cake cover. When I finished I used Jo Sonja water based polyurethane. I found on the internet pictures of real roosters, then sketched them, and painted them. I stenciled chicken wire here and there to complete the design.

Wine Canvas Picture

This is a canvas picture that I painted a while back. The background is two toned with a menu, wine labels, and matchbook cover glued to the canvas. The grapes are painted with Deco Art purple acrylic paint with a branch and several leaves. It would look great framed or unframed.

Canvas Bag

I found this Liz Claiborne canvas bag for a dollar at a thrift store in Jacksonville, Florida. I painted a Shara Reiner pattern on the front using Deco Art so soft fabric paints. I have several canvas totes, but this one is sturdy and the right size to carry my color pencil project and Prismacolor pencils. 
Usually, I don't look for bags while thrifting, but I needed one for the Decorative Artist of Jacksonville workshop April  13th. Marge Talbert will be teaching painting on a handbag or wallet using Martha Stewart satin acrylic paints. She has a black handbag that she painted with flowers on it. It is beautiful.

White antique lamp

Here is the treasure that I found when antiquing last week with Patty Howell and Cindy Williams. After Cindy passed the lamp, I leaped for it,  because I have never seen one like it. I can't wait to paint it. Good thing Patty was driving that day, Cindy said she would have left me on the curb (a little jealous-I think).

After moving from Texas to Florida last May, I have had so much fun antiquing, thrifting, and junking with these fellow Decorative Artist of Jacksonville. The DAJ chapter is very informative, educational, and growing with new members. We have programs taught by local artists and seminars by national teachers.
Check out our website www.dajpaints.org and join us at our next meeting April 12, 2013.
Happy Painting!

Green with Envy

Cindy, Patty, and I went antiquing in Jacksonville on Monday. We ate at Amy's Cafe and the food was delicious. Cindy and I ordered the spinach quiche and Patty ordered the spinach smoothie. Do you see Patty's look on the left? She was thinking, "Green what?".  The picture on the right, shows how good the smoothie really was. You couldn't taste the spinach at all just the berries and banana.
Even her shirt matches her drink.
We had a really good time and found some treasures along the way.
Watch out going antiquing with friends, sometimes they might find something you want and snap it right out from under you.

Folk Art Coffee Pot

I bought this metal coffee pot several years ago at Unique Woods in Arlington, Texas, but painted it last week. The pattern was inspired by a Rosemary West line drawing that I painted and varnished

with Jo Sonja paints. Aren't the colors bright and cheerful?  If you are looking for a pot like this one, you might try Della Wetterman's website. Happy Painting!

Toaster

Georgann's Craft Closet

This is a 1952 metal toaster that I found at an estate sale in the trash. After asking if I could have the toaster, I took it apart, cut the cord off, and put it in the dishwasher. I spray painted it with Rust-oleum automotive grey primer, then with Rust-oleum black texture spray paint, and finally black acrylic paint. I tole painted using Jo Sonja tube acrylic paints with a Rosemary West pattern on all four sides and  finished with Jo Sonja varnish. It is a real conversation piece since I use it as a napkin holder. Just think what you can do with a old piece from the trash.

Apron

I would like to thank Patty Howell for making me this darling apron from her husband jeans and monogrammed my name on it. I had fun painting the brushes and pencils in the pockets with lace at the top and adding antique buttons down the middle.

Snowman Nutcracker

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This is the cutest snowman nutcracker that I have painted inspired by Bobbie Takashima. The snowman nutcracker is painted with Jo Sonja acrylics and has darling sculpted gingerbread people, candy, lollipops, and more. The sculpting was done with paper clay that was before I found quick wood. I think it is easier to work with and doesn't dry out as fast. When the snowman was finished, I painted clear glitter all over her.

Kitchen Island

My husband wanted an island in our kitchen, since we had a lot of floor space and not much counter space. I wanted an old cabinet, but he didn't like that idea. We found a new cabinet at the Habitat in Jacksonville just the right size without a top. My friend, Cindy gave me some bead board left from a project at her house, when I went to use it is was a little short.(thanks Cindy) I use it horizontally then added 1" strips around each side. We put on a galvanized tin piece from Home Depot for the top and I painted it with red and teal. Yes, I streaked it to make it look old on purpose and I love it. What do you think?

Decorative Astist of Jacksonville Class

I had a good time teaching at the Decorative Artist of Jacksonville and everyone seemed to enjoy it as well.
There were 23 tole painters learning dry brushing on a metal bucket. The pattern was a Jo Sonja inspired drawing with birds, a heart, flowers, and strokes. We had lunch and finished painting until early afternoon.
 

Day with Friends

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of painting with Patty Howell (DAJ chapter president), Saundra Sanderson (did you know she has been published in Paintworks), and her sister Vickie McNair. We were painting the banner by Chris Thorrnton-Deason in the April 2013 issue of Paintworks magazine and one of the girls finished hers (she will be nameless) but we still had a great time.
I would like to wish Cindy Williams a speedy recovery from bronchitis (so we can go junking).

Folkart Clock With Inserts

I love this clock. I hand painted this wooden clock made by Unique Woods and used a Rosemary West pattern. This clock comes with 4 inserts so you can change the front panel and store the other 3 inside the clock. The top and sides have stenciled leaves on a black background. The front where the clock is located has strawberries and tulips painted on it.
This insert shown is a basket of flowers with a bunny sitting besides it. I will show you the other painted inserts soon.
I have the clock sitting on a iron plant stand that I found at Hobby Lobby. 

Teapot

I just finished this darling teapot.  One side has a bird and nest with eggs and the other has a bird with branches and leaves. Both sides have filler purple flowers. The main colors are blue and black with a gold finial on top, scalloped border, and band on the base. This teapot has a raised design on the handle which adds to its character. This project was painted with Jo Sonja acrylics. I love working with these paints because of the pigment and the open time you have to paint.