Never Enough Thyme Creations

French Provencal Desk

2012-01-26T20:36:00.005-06:00

Has the town next to yours ever been having a Town Wide Garage Sale… on a Saturday… that you can not make? What is a girl to do?
You do a drive through the day before and hope you spot a “I have to have that NOW” piece!
Such was the case with this piece.

Can you blame me? Oh, I see I was so excited, I forgot to take pictures before I took off the hardware and started to clean off the … uummm…. grime….., yeah, that is a safe word for what may have been on this desk. She sure had some sexy legs though.. just a little dirty!
However, I knew that it was nothing that a good scrub and a fresh coat of paint couldn’t cure.

Hmmm, I am thinking this beauty to be has much more character than one color of paint would show. Time to kick it up a notch!

Ahhh, getting better, but now she needs a bit of sparkle….and I need my spectacles… This is a first for me….

Now to bring out some of her hidden character..

And add a faux marbled top…

She moves into a temporary home.

If you are near Bellville, TX, this piece can be found at Nothing Ordinary Antiques, but not for long!
What treasures are you working on?
Happy Painting!

Karen

Technorati Tags: French,furniture

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com
http://romantichome.blogspot.com
http://designergarden.blogspot.com
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com
http://becolorful.typepad.com/becolorful/
http://atthepicketfence.com
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

DONE with my Word of the Year

2012-01-14T20:56:00.000-06:00

A few days ago, I ran across a post from The Lettered Cottage.

Layla is hosting a Word of the Year party. I laughed, thought of a few words, and went about my day.

Over the last few days, the post continued to nag at me. My conscience can be very annoying sometimes! What word would really define my year and my goals? One word….

Source

I went back to working on a piece of furniture that I wanted to repaint to add to my booth. I was then sidetracked. I started working on another piece that I wanted to finish before my Honey returned home from a trip. I needed to cook dinner, throw in a load of laundry…

My mind wondered again… one word….

I realized I never actually sat down this year to write out my goals and resolutions. I have a mental list, but I have a few other projects that need my attention more.

Frustration started to set in. Several projects started, none completed.

Source

Why am I getting nowhere? Nothing seems to be getting DONE.

So it was time for a change! I sat down, and made myself a list.

Then I realized what I needed to do. I need to focus on a few projects at a time. Due to paint drying times, I can usually juggle a few different projects at once, but I need to concentrate on finishing one before starting another. I need to get one thing at a time …

Source

What stops me on days from getting things accomplished? A grocery shop, a trip to Home Depot, dinner is cooked, clothes are clean…. A lot was still accomplished, but was anything Done?

I guess a lot can depend on your definition of DONE!

As for my resolutions, already 1 pound is DONE! My goal of one blog post per week, so far, DONE! A few pieces of furniture – DONE! I can’t wait to look back at the end of my year and see all that I have DONE!

What will you have DONE by the end of the year?

I hope you will stay with me through the year, see all that I can do with paint, creativity, and imagination. Come December, I hope we can all look back and smile at a

Source

What is stopping you from getting your goals and To Do list Done? I would love to hear your comments!

Happy Painting!

Karen

Your time is up Oak Cabinet!

2012-01-12T19:53:00.001-06:00

10 years ago, I was picking out cabinetry for my new house. I would Ooohhh and aaahhh over gorgeous cherry cabinets, details, mouldings…. I wanted it all!

From Better Homes and Gardens

Then, the builder reminded me I was on a very small and very tight budget. Bye bye to my dreams…

Back to the Building Center I go. Telling the people of my woes, they politely suggested unfinished oak cabinets. Well, OK, I think… I mean, I am a faux finisher. I have painted furniture, walls…. I can do something with these….right???

This is about as far as some cabinets got.

So, 10 years later, it is time for an update! I pulled out my chalk paint. Away I went, adding layers of colors,

sanding,

and glazing.

Yes, you heard me right. Glazing. Because these cabinets are in the mud room and I wanted something more durable. I also did not want to use a petroleum based wax.

I figure my cabinets are pretty permanent in my home. When you use a petroleum based wax, the only way to repaint that item is to strip it. YUCK! Isn’t that why many of us are using chalk paint? We love that we don’t have to strip or sand…

I quickly over glazed with Caromal Colours. When dry, I added a few quick topcoats of Modern Masters Sealer Master Clear. Love this stuff!

I love the new look on the cabinets. I really love that this was a quick project that took only a couple of hours, sans drying times. Using all water based products, makes me happy as well. After 17 years of working with different products, I am very careful about what products I use and what those products are composed of.

This is one project I can now mark off my list as “Done”!

I hope you have been inspired by my post! I would love to hear from you!

Happy Painting!

Karen

Technorati Tags: cabinets,ASCP,glazing,faux finishes

A New Look for an old Piece

2012-01-04T20:55:00.008-06:00

Sometimes, I have a piece of furniture in my “stash” that waits for the right moment or inspiration to strike before I am ready to give it a new life. This is one of those pieces. I bought the piece in Round Top last spring. I almost made my sister walk home just so the piece would fit in my truck. Luckily, we were able to all fit together very closely for the 2 hour ride home!

The top of the piece had great display space, a glass door, oh, and a little dust when this photo was taken. Yes, it had sat in my barn a while….

The bottom of the piece had some great lines and detail to it. I fell in love with the feather like carvings and the curves of the piece. I can’t tell you how many times I walked by it, envisioned the piece in every color under the sun, day dreamed about how great it would look in my house…. Of course, I have to remind myself that my house is full and I had no room for this piece.
Then, I heard the angels start to sing…. O.K., in reality, my phone rang and one of my favorite clients said he needed a piece for his office and he needed it quickly. You may remember this client from this piece I did for him. Did I ever mention that his wife won? It never made it to his office!

He needed a piece, and quickly for his first open house for his new business.

I had little time to spare. I certainly had no time to take photos during the process.

I did have time to really have fun with ASCP!

Since my client was in the financial industry, I thought it would be fun to add an under lying touch of red, overlayed with green tones. Just a reminder that our economy will improve!

I never had a chance to photograph the piece in my studio, and I joked with him that I was going to call his wife to see if she wanted it in the house. When he picked it up, he was thankful I didn’t call her. It would have never made it to his office.

This piece is happy to have a new life in a new home!

Here is to a new life for this piece of furniture, and a great way to start of a New Year! I hope you have enjoyed this post and will become a follower if you are not already! I love sharing my projects!

Happy Painting!

Karen

Technorati Tags: furniture,chalk paint

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Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T08:58:00.001-06:00

Technorati Tags: faux finishes,painted furniture,home decor,art,custom painted,upcycled,repurposed

WOW! I can’t believe another year has flown by! It has been an incredible year full of inspiration, fun projects, and pushing myself to the limits!

New products have been introduced to paint with and I have done my part to upcycle and repurpose many great pieces of furniture and decorative items!

I have painted some really awesome pieces of furniture, some are available for sale, some have been custom pieces for some of my wonderful clients!

I am very excited to finally have a space to display and sell my creations,

located at Polak Petals in East Bernard.

I have also worked in some fabulous homes and places!

Mostly this year, I have been so very blessed. I have been blessed with so many wonderful followers of my work and my blog. I have a wonderful family that supports my insanity and doesn’t mind ( too much!) paint brushes in the kitchen sink!

I would love to show my Christmas decorations and tree, but, well, I decided to repaint my kitchen walls, cabinets, and backsplash instead this week!

Wishing you a very colorful Christmas!

Happy Painting!

Karen

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T21:11:00.001-06:00

This Thanksgiving, I find myself full of gratitude, thanks, and blessings!

I am so grateful for my family!! I would be lost with out them! God has blessed me with a wonderful bunch of brothers, sisters, In-laws, nieces and nephews. Now we each have a big extended family and even if I can’t spend this Holiday with each and every one of them, I am very thankful that they are all a very important part of my life!

I am thankful that I have had a year so crazy and busy! I know that some things have had to take a second seat, one being my blog, but I have had some amazing projects and some incredible clients this year! I feel like each and every one of them are a part of my family!

This piece was a big hit!! You can read all about it here… And for the record, I recently was at their home. The wife won!!! I am working on another piece for his office!!

This was a really fun project!!

I never blogged about this one. This was a project that kept me very busy this year! It all took place 5 hours away, so I was gone for weeks at a time, but it really touched my heart to be able to do this one!!

So, we return to this:

My hutch from last year. I can happily say that I haven’t had a chance to decorate it this year. Yes, that means that life has been really good this year!!

I have been blessed with new family, a grand baby, and many wonderful people in my life!! You are included!! I know my blog is small, and I don’t always have the time to devote to it that I want right now, but it is knowing that I have readers that are interested in my projects that drive me daily!

I wish you and your loved ones a very Thankful Thanksgiving!! I thank you for your time and for reading my blog!! May you too be blessed this day and through the year!

Happy Painting!

Karen

Life is Like a Box of Chocolat

2011-11-09T09:23:00.001-06:00

I have been craving French Chocolat lately!

All while getting ready for a show this weekend. I haven’t done a show in a while, so I am really excited about this one! So much inspiration out there has my brushes running wild!

If you are in the West Houston area, I would love for you to stop by!

Saturday, November 12 · 10:00am - 5:00pm

Location

Cross Creek Ranch Subdivision Welcome Center ~ Fulshear, Texas

6450 Cross Creek Bend Lane

I will be sharing more items this week! I would love to hear your comments!

Happy Painting!

Karen

A Day of Design

2011-10-13T16:12:00.002-05:00

A huge Thank You!! to everyone that came out for our Day of Design!

I hope you enjoyed our speaker Sally Morse from Hunter Douglas as much as I did! I was very excited with some of the upcoming trends that she spoke of. I love that she showed painted furniture, bold pops of color, and where our color forecast come from!
It was wonderful to meet so many new people and to hear what design challenges you are facing. It seems those art niches in new homes are giving people fits!
I spoke with many people about creating custom art to go into them.

I have worked with many people over the years doing just that!

I would love to work with you to customize a piece for your home! Perhaps you need some color advice or are considering a faux finish? Let me know!
I do hope you enjoyed your day. We would appreciate your feedback on the day. Feel free to send me an email or leave your comment and share your thoughts. We are already working on another Day of Design for the spring!

Happy Painting!

Karen

From Curbside to Chateau

2011-09-14T12:22:00.010-05:00

So, what do you do when a neighbor calls and threatens to drag her old coffee table to the curb? Well, you run, don’t walk! Of course!!

Now, this table had been well loved for some time. The finish was wearing, the dents and dings of grandchildren, pets, and kids was a bit much for my neighbor to bear!
Armed with a sander, I went to work sanding off the old worn finish, working on those dings…

Wait a minute, I am LOVING the dings, the age, the character! This piece is perfect! A fresh coat of stain, and it is time for a break! Then, it hits me! The top of this piece is reminding me of old wine casks. A little searching for inspiration…

I knew there would be no rest for the weary! With paint and brushes busy at work, the table top was complete!



I am loving the final piece!! I would love to hear your thoughts! If this is your first time visiting, I hope you will become a follower! There is more to come on this piece. The old girl had great legs, but they needed a makeover. I will share that tomorrow!
Happy Painting until next thyme!
Karen

Linking with:

http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com
http://romantichome.blogspot.com
http://designergarden.blogspot.com

Technorati Tags: furniture,upcycled

A sneak peak from the Chateau!

2011-09-13T16:29:00.001-05:00

I am so excited that I just can’t wait! I am loving a piece I am working on and wanted to share a sneak peak with you!

Details coming…. as soon as the paint dries!!

Until that thyme!

Karen

Technorati Tags: furniture,upcycled,painted

Drought in Texas

2011-09-07T10:08:00.001-05:00

It has been an unbearably hot and dry summer here in Texas. I was looking at my post from last fall. Everything is so different this year. We don’t even have morning fog, instead we have evening smoke. The airs smells like a giant BBQ burning out of control. So many have lost so much.
Everything is scorched, all the grass is dead. The cows are hungry and hay is hard to find and very expensive.
The bayou that I grew up on is non-existent in places. The fish are gone. The memories remain, along with the prayer for rains to come – soon!
Please join myself and other bloggers from Texas http://texas-blogginggals.blogspot.com/2011/09/please-pray-please-join-us-in-praying.html in a prayer for relief.

Karen
All photos in this post are courtesy of my daughter and her aspiration in becoming a photographer. flickr.com/emily_kubisch
http://emilykubisch.tumblr.com/

Parisian Panels

2011-08-30T14:37:00.018-05:00

First, I want to thank you for sticking with me! I realize it has been a while since I have posted, but I have thankfully had a very busy summer! Even better news is I have been taking photos and notes through all my projects and I can not wait to share with you!

One of my favorite projects this summer was a furniture makeover. too busy for a vacation to France, I thought it would be fun to give this piece a bit of a Parisian flare! I started with a great piece with great lines, but in need of a fresh look.

A little cleaning, a fresh coat of Peppercorn from Caromal Colors;

Yes, this was one coat. I have been using Caromal Colours for several months now on many projects. The paints are very thick with excellent bonding and coverage. I thinned the paints with water for this project and was so thrilled with the coverage! Next, a little distressing….

and then for the fun!! I used the Parisian Panels from Royal Design Studio. I think they were designed for this piece!! They were a perfect fit! I stenciled them in a metallic gold.

A coat of sealer and I was finished!

I was so pleased with this piece!! I did this for a client’s office, but he admitted, he would be wrestling with his wife to get it to his office. It would be perfect in their home!
If you are interested in Caromal Colours, you can order through the website. Don’t forget my code Karen S to receive $2 off shipping!

Happy Painting!
Karen

Linking with:
http://homestoriesatoz.com
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
www.theletteredcottage.net
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com
www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com
http://romantichome.blogspot.com
http://designergarden.blogspot.com

Caromal Colours, Show House, and a Winner!

2011-04-08T06:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, a lot to catch up on, but first things first!! WELCOME!! I am so excited to have reached over 100 followers on Google, not to mention over 100 on Facebook! I can not explain how elated I am to have you interested in my work and what I do! Thank you form the bottom of my big ole Texas heart!!

I posted about my blogiversary and then life got really busy!! So busy, that I have gone two weeks before announcing a winner instead of my intended one week. However, I intend to make up for that, but first, I want to share what I have been so busy with!

Earlier this year, I became a representative for Caromal Colours. I have been wanting to start to make a transition from doing walls to doing more cabinetry and furniture. I searched and searched for a product that would be easy to use, ( I knew I would want to blog about it!) give awesome results, yet be unique from any other product that I have tried. Now, being a faux finisher for over 16 years, you can bet that I have tried so many products!

I came across Caromal Colours and decided to give them a try. It did not take long for me to be hooked! The paints are very thick, allowing you build a bit of texture. The sand very easily, and the best part, they stick to darn near anything with little to no prep! I have really been enjoying using them.

This table has been in my workshop for ever!! In fact, I was using it as a work table! The Caromal Colours covered and even enhanced the imperfections in the table. I did a quick stencil on the table, and then sanded everything back, glazed, and distressed for an awesome look! I will be doing many more posts on the paints, but if you have any questions in the mean time, please ask!!

You can learn more about the paints here. If you order, please use my code KarenS and you will receive $2 off shipping. I am working on cabinets with the paints this week and can’t wait to show you how awesome they are turning out!

Next, a Show Home! I am so excited to have some of my work in the Houston Area American Society of Interior Designers ASID) home this year!

This past weekend was the opening of the Houston Area ASID ( Association of Interior Designers) Designing with the Stars Show House. I worked with designer Debra Sabrsula on the entry way into the Show House. It was a bit of a challenge to pull together the entry space with all of the adjoining spaces. I feel that we did a great job of keeping the entry way neutral to compliment all the colors and textures that were adjoining our space! You can see the coverage by Great Day Houston here. The faux ceiling that caught their eyes as soon as they walked in was one I completed!

Here are two adjoining walls that I finished, along with a metallic ceiling. As you can see, the entry connected into 4 separate spaces.

Here is a close up of the stone texture wall with embossed leaves. So far, it has been a real hit! If you are in the Houston/Missouri City area, I highly recommend making a trip out to see the house! There are some amazing ideas, great design, and some really fun repurposed ideas throughout the house!

And FINALLY….. Drum roll please…..

A WINNER! My daughter drew the name of: FAUXOLOGY ! I am so excited! Regina, who writes this wonderful blog full of great information, and I have never actually met, but we both come from faux finishing backgrounds! She does some amazing work and has a great blog full of information. Hop over and check her out.

Thanks again for being a follower and interested in what I do! I can’t wait to share more about Caromal Colours, stenciling, faux finishing, and ways you can use these tools in your home!

Happy Painting and until next thyme!

Karen

Inspiration, Blogiversary and a Giveaway!

2011-03-23T09:31:00.004-05:00

Yep, there is a lot going on this week!! I want to welcome my new followers! I have had so many wonderful comments on my projects lately!! That sends me over the moon!!
So, that brings me to my blogiversary!! What an incredible year it has been! While my blog will probably never be one that posts every day, I do hope it will be one that you can find inspiration from. One of my goals for my blog is to help people learn new painting techniques. I love my work, and I love to share it with others!

I have been watching a few birds build their nests! I noticed a little house wren who must also be a faux finisher. She has chosen to build her nest in one of my plaster trays in the barn!

I must give her credit for being resourceful! She has been in the compost pile as well. I see she found some grape stems. How did she know decorating with grapes is a classic?
I also have a pair of Mockingbirds that have been courting each other all spring. I can watch them from my desk as I blog. I noticed her starting her nest a few weeks ago…

Now, the leaves have budded, and she did a great job of hiding her nest!

While cleaning in the barn, I came across this nest from last year. I found it interesting in the birds choice of materials. I mean, seriously, how did she know that skins are in? On the downside, I across came across the snake that shed this skin last year. Luckily, it got away – I hope far away!!

I wasn’t sure what I would do for my blogiversary. I knew I wanted to do a giveaway. Well, it became pretty apparent to me what I could paint for one of my lucky readers! I will be giving away one of my birds nest paintings. It only makes sense to me. So many blogs are about “feathering your nest”, families, and improving the world around us!

How can you win this painting? Here are the rules:
1. You must be a follower either on Google or Facebook!
2. Leave a comment. Maybe tell me what you like about my blog, what techniques interest you, or what would you like to see on my blog?
3. For an extra chance, blog about my giveaway and let me know you did! I would greatly appreciate it!
4. I am starting a new venture. You can check it out here or here. Become a follower or “Like” on Facebook. More details will be coming soon. If you are nearby, stop by on Saturday. I would love to meet you! Let me know that you checked it out by leaving a comment.
So, I look forward to another great year and I thank you for being a part of my first year! The giveaway closes Thursday, March 31, 2011.

Good Luck and Happy Painting!

Karen

London Calling

2011-03-10T20:44:00.007-06:00

I have to admit, the last few months have been a bit slower around here than I like, so when my telly rang, I was excited!! It was a call for a mural. I hesitated. I needed the work. I haven’t done any murals in a while. Do I remember how to do one? I needed the work….
My client wanted an English Phone Booth painted in her “England” room. I mean, with the Royal Wedding coming up, isn’t it time we all decorate one room in our home in an English theme?
I knew I could do this,so I did started out the way I always do, with a Google search for images.

I found this image from istockphoto.com. I quickly realized an English phone booth is nothing more than a series of straight lines!
Armed with my Scotch blue Edge lock tape, Scotch Blue Faux Finishing tape, a level and a ruler, I started to tape the booth out on the wall.

Can you see how much of this phone booth is a series of intersecting lines? If you break an object down, it can suddenly become easy to paint!

Once I had the basic front of the booth painted, I started to work on simple shadows.

Again, the shadow areas are just lightly filling in straight lines! Next, I used my Silhouette cutter to cut out the “Telephone” lettering. I used a Mylar and stenciled the letters. You could easily use vinyl lettering!

Sorry for the photos. I was having camera issues! At the end of the first day, I had a booth looking like this:

The lines that give the booth a little more definition were done again with Scotch Blue Faux Finishing tape and a stencil brush. Using just a very small amount of paint on the brush, I went lightly along the edge of the tape. When I pulled the tape, I had a line that looked like a shadow and gave the booth a bit more definition.
The crown was a small metal crown that I purchased and painted gold. It was a fun element to add! I also added a faux key hole for the door.

So far, everything that I have done on the booth has been done using tape, a ruler, a level, and a few colors of paint! Do you see how easy it could be to do this in your own home?
That evening, my client called, thrilled with the booth! However, she now wanted to add a bit more..
I started with a very loose interpretation of London Bridge. If this were a real phone booth, London Bridge would be seen through 2 panes of glass, so the image would naturally be a bit distorted and in the distance!
Of course, there had to be a phone in booth

…
So,
Do you think the Queen will be calling to invite me to the wedding? I would love to go!
Happy Painting and until next thyme!

Karen

Linking up :

When Momma’s Kitchen Calls…

2011-02-28T07:00:00.012-06:00

When your Mother calls and tells you she is tired of walking in her front door and staring at a wall of white cabinets, you better come with stencils and brushes in hand!!

My Mother lives in the cutest little cottage house! It wasn’t always that way. When she bought it, it had dark wallpaper, dingy grey walls, and a glimmer of character. We spent the next year making changes to every room in the house. Just when I think I am done, she calls…

Seems that it is really bugging her that the first thing you see when you walk in the front door is a wall of plain white cabinet doors.

I immediately did what I always do. I started looking around the kitchen for clues, design ideas, and color choices.

Blue was going to be in order, as were floral's.

I had the perfect stencil in mind. I have used an worked with stencils from Royal Design Studios for as long as I can remember! The stencils are always very elegant and timeless designs. The Floral Embroidery Centerpiece I thought would be the perfect way to dress up these very plain pantry doors.
I gathered all my supplies. For this project, it included craft paints, a bit of glaze or extender, painters tape, a level, a measuring stick, and of course, the stencil and stencil brushes.

I will use a Styrofoam plate, or in the case a sanitized meat tray as my palette. Stenciling takes very little paint and a very dry brush. For this design, I used 2 colors of paint that I intermixed. I achieved the look of several colors depending on how heavily I applied the paint or the amount of shading I used.

An important note… when we repainted the cabinets in her house, we primed and painted them in a high quality acrylic paint. ( We used Aura from Benjamin Moore). Otherwise, the acrylic paint would not adhere well to an oil based paint.

When stenciling darn near anything, just like carpentry, you want to measure at least twice, and paint only once! I did my math to figure out the placement of the stencil. Since I was doing a big “wall” of cabinetry, I wanted to be sure the design was centered and spaced evenly.
This photo shows you how I work when stenciling. This was a 2 part or 2 overlay stencil. I will often use one of the overlays as a guide on size and placement. In this case, I was doing a coloration very similar to the cover sheet that was included with the stencil. Otherwise, I ALWAYS do a few prints of my design to be sure I have colors, shading, and scale correct.

The first overlay is done. If you look closely, you can see that the design is not filled in 100%. By varying the amount of pressure and paint you use, you can create depth in design.

…
Here is the design after the second overlay has been painted. To get the second impression, I simply flipped the stencil upside down and stenciled the design.

Here are the finished cabinet doors. They really spruced the place up, don’t you think? And now, your view from when you walk in the front door….

You are greeted by a great wall of design that sets the tone for the entire house! Well, almost… Seems after we finished, we took a second look around the kitchen. Now, the rest of the cabinets look a bit bare.

Guess I will be returning to add to these cabinets. Oh well, Momma always feeds me lunch!
Have you tried stenciling? I love to stencil! I think it is a great way to make a huge impact!
Until next thyme,
Happy Painting!

Karen

Linking up with:

A Marathon of Inspiration

2011-02-22T21:25:00.001-06:00

Last week, we attended the Austin Marathon in Austin, TX. My Honey’s youngest son was running the race and had been training for it with other members of his Army unit. We are very proud of him for undertaking such a task of endurance. What we never imagined though, is how we would walk away so inspired by the stories we saw.

The race started at 7 am on a Sunday. The morning was still cool and overcast. Good weather for runners. We started our day at the two mile marker.

It was amazing to see how many people had entered . Close to 20,000 people had entered to run an half marathon or a full marathon. 26 miles for 26 charities was the theme of the marathon.

It soon became evident that every person out there had his or her own reason for lining up at the start. They also had their own reasons for crossing the finish line.

Whether it be to see if their body was physically able to do it, or they were running for a family member, some one with cancer or another illness or disease,

As the race started, we were awestruck at the traffic jam of people that continually ran past us at the two mile marker. Some had a very serious look on their face, others were still jovial, smiling and jestering to the official photographer that was in front of us.

We moved to the eight mile marker. The people had thinned out some, but the looks were the same. People wearing costumes, runners getting the crowd to cheer them on, determination, concentration, and a few with a vivid imagination!

As we made our way to the finish line, we were able to watch so many of the half marathoners cross the finish line. Couples that crossed together, some elated to have pushed their bodies to do what they just did, all ages, all walks of life.

We watched as the first full marathoners crossed the finish line. An amazing feat of mind, body, and soul.

We had a great position 50 meters from the finish line. The expressions of every marathoner as they turned the last corner and had the finish line finally come into view.

I think we saw every emotion you could imagine. I saw tears – tears of elation, tears of belief. Prayers were being said. We saw people that still had enough energy to give it all they had to give a final push to cross the finish line.

We witnessed a man whose legs just would not go on.

Then, we witnessed two total strangers, stop their own race, and pick him up to carry him across the finish line.

A true testament to the goodness of mankind.

Runners would pick up their babies near the finish line, so they could cross together. One couple was married at the 22.5 mile marker.

We saw faces of agony, faces of determination, and faces of accomplishment.

Thanks to my daughter, for her inspiration, and her photography. She took the pictures for today’s post!

She inspires me, as does this young man! He finished the race!

We could not be prouder!

The whole time, I kept thinking… what can you really do with your mind and your body – when you really want something? At what price are you will to pay in order to reach your goals? What sacrifices are you wiling to make in order to make your dreams come true?

I have sat down and changes some of my goals for the future!

Until next thyme, what type of marathon are willing to run to accomplish your goals?

Karen

The Copy Me Challenge

2011-02-11T22:03:00.004-06:00

If you read any blogs, I am sure that by now you are aware of the challenge. The challenge by the two talented ladies known as “Miss Mustard Seed” and “Funky Junk Donna”.

Hmmm, do I really want to admit that I copy them? Maybe I can just show how they have inspired me. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
The very talented Marian, aka, Miss Mustard Seed, is a decorative artist. Ok, so I am . Guess that is why I have always felt a kindred spirit with her.

From MissMustardSeedBlogspot.com

The resourceful Funky Junk Donna is a single mother and a sign maker. She is totally devoted not only to her son, but also to making some of the coolest stuff out there from her neighbor’s dumpster! While Donna was tearing down walls from her little King’s Castle, I was turning my daughter’s room into a rainforest!   I have been raising her all on my own for the last 10 years!! What a journey we have shared! She has learned to live and love my road side finds.

So, how are theses two talented ladies being copied?? Or are they being copied? I like to refer to the saying that “ Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”.
Like Marian, I love the curvy lines of the French.
I love them more after a fresh coat of paint, some distressing, some glazing, and a little decorative art !

Rust? Old Scales ?    The bathroom scale is one I try to avoid, but when my brother was getting rid of this one, it found a home with me!

Notice the bird? Would I have ever thought to do this if it were not for blogs?

You have all seen Donna’s workspace and her salvaged desk.

Here is mine. The table has been in my family for as long as I can remember. It went with me to college, hung out in a barn, lived on a porch, and recently, I decided I needed to rescue it again! Some elbow grease, some stain, a stencil from Royal Design Studios and a coat of wax, it now serves as my desk.


Complete with an old sugar cane mold that keeps my pens and pencils, eye glasses, and old silver plated knives that are now setter openers ( you just thought it was some of Miss Mustard Seed’s tarnished silver!)
So yes, I can say, that in the last year since I really started reading blogs and working to get my own blog up and running, these two very gifted ladies have been a big influence on me. They have not only offered their talents as artists with a good eye for the possible, but they have both offered many words of encouragement. They have encouraged me to hold on to my dreams… To start painting furniture for sale again. They have offered wonderful tutorials, which has helped me make a decision to open my studio up to teaching classes. They have made me remember that with a desire to succeed, anything is possible!
If it takes copying them, I would draw mostly on the inspiration they have offered, not as artists or recycler’s of cast aways, but I hope to copy them as inspirational women! I hope you share my dream, as well as the dreams of so many others out there. Inspiration comes in so many forms. If you believe this, I hope you will become a follower. I am taking on inspiration from these two to continue to grow my blog, share my projects and imagination, just as these two have done!

Happy Painting and until next thyme!

Karen

An Ice Day in Texas

2011-02-04T12:58:00.000-06:00

The weatherman predicted 1-3 inches of snow. Everything shuts down with that prediction. Schools let out early yesterday. Stores were packed. I admit, many Texans are wimps when it comes to that four letter word. I am one of them!

I woke this morning, expecting a winter wonderland. Instead, I woke to an icy view.

So much for my plans for the day. Instead, I decided to use the ICE to my advantage…

Inspire

I love days like this! I could spend hours curled up with a blanket going through inspiration files, magazines, and images I have saved on my computer. Look how the sleet made such a statement on my door mat! Gives me ideas for a new piece of art, maybe incorporating a harlequin pattern with embossed leaf accents….

I am also using this inspiring day to think about what direction I want to take my business and my life.

Create

I have left the heat on in my studio to keep everything from freezing! I started working on a few things this morning.

A makeover for these pieces is in the works along with many other pieces including some furniture and cabinet makeovers.

I also like to take days like this to cook and clean. I mean, the weather will get better soon, so I may as well lounge in a clean house with a full tummy!

Explore

While I am not exactly putting on my boots today;

I am exploring many options! I think they are all exciting.

New pathways that are opening in my life will take me in a few new directions. I hope you will come with me on that journey! Details to come…

How are you using your snowy, cold winter days? Dreaming of warmer weather? ( Do you ever wish you were your dog? )

Or playing on I C E ?

Inspire, Create, Explore

Until next Thyme,

Karen

Warming up with RED!

2011-02-01T12:01:00.009-06:00

True confession here. I truly dislike Winter! My little Southern toes do not like to be in shoes or cold! I was so looking forward to the end of January, until this morning. You see, yesterday, we had temps in the 70’s. I was in the studio in shorts! Then, around 4 am, Mr. COLD NORTH WIND decided to blow in. He hasn’t stopped! The Weatherman says extreme cold temps are here to stay for the week.   I know, I shouldn’t complain. There are so many of you that are iced and snowed in. Just sayin…..
So, with that, I say let’s warm this day up with some Fiery Reds!!


Here are some heart pumping photos from a piece I recently completed. The base is a fiery Venetian Red with embedded and embossed hearts and damask patterns.   Are you feeling the love?   I was so excited when this piece was completed. The combination of golds, teals and reds make such a statement. The glimmer of the metallic makes the piece shine! The best part, this piece is available here or in my sales gallery!
Is it still snowing out? Well, let me share a red powder room I completed! I live how the room was instantly warmed up with a deep red base coat and an over glazing of deep browns.

Remember reading about finding an inspiration piece for your home? Here is the inspiration piece for this homeowner. From a single piece of art, we developed an color plan for the entire home. Of course, I couldn’t let the great gilded part of this piece of art go without compliment.

A bit of gilding and metallic plasters adorned the ceilings. Just a note, when doing a ceiling, even if you are just painting it, please take time to prime those air vents and other “white blobs” up there and help them to disappear into your ceiling!
Of course, I haven’t forgotten about my hutch! I think it is my favorite thing to decorate in my home.

I have my red transfer ware ready to warm up the space! Isn’t it romantic?

I love the rooster plates. I only wish I had bought more when I saw them. Lesson learned!

Of course, I can’t forget my Santa. He hangs around the house all year long! He is ready for warmer weather, and I know you are too!

I am linking with:

Happy Painting and until next Thyme!
Karen

The Bold and the Beautiful

2011-01-30T21:15:00.001-06:00

OK, so I admit I haven't been real regular lately about posting blogs, but trust me, I am trying!! I haven't exactly been laying on the couch watching soap operas either if that is what you are thinking by my title ! Here is the scoop:

I am so excited to be part of a very unique blog hop. Gail @My Repurposed Life and MeganDVD @ Beauty in the Attempt are hosting “The Bold and the Beautiful-your blog reviewed”.

Please take a look around my blog, check out the layout, pages, buttons, sidebar and gadgets. I would love for you to gently critique my blog. I’m hoping you will leave me some positive feedback about my blog. It would be great if you could give me constructive criticism but be sure to tell me what you like about my blog too! Do you like my pictures? Does my blog load quickly for you? How about the font? All tips and tidbits welcome!

You are welcome to join the party, it starts Thursday night and is open for a week.

One lucky winner will receive a premade blog design of their very own, that will be customized by one of the great ladies, over at
Designer Blogs!

Here is a link to one of my most popular posts. The good news is I have been busy in my studio and have some exciting things to share later this week! Thank you for taking the time to leave some comments. I hope you will become a follower if you are not already! There are some great ideas to come !

Happy Painting and until Next Thyme,

Karen

Are your walls inspired?

2011-01-18T21:54:00.002-06:00

Thanks for coming back! This is the second part of how I have worked with people over the years to help them pick colors for their home. You can read my introduction to choosing color here.

I have been seeing a lot of articles and blogs lately on color. House Beautiful Magazine has done several issues lately dedicated to using a lot of color, while the latest issue of Country Living Magazine talks about the beauty of White. One blog says grey is the new beige, while the Pantone color of the year is Honeysuckle. So, what is a girl to do? So many conflicting articles, so many colors to choose from….

From House Beautiful

When I first meet with a client to pick out colors, my first question is always: “ Do you have an inspiration piece?” It is so much easier to match a color to a piece of fabric or find a color that works with a rug than to do the opposite! Think about it: You can easily take a fabric swatch into a store with you, but dragging a piece of painted drywall into the fabric store is a different story!

Here is the inspiration fabric for my home. The fabric feels like the colors I am happy living with. No matter how I have tried, I can not get away from these colors! I love warm yellow tones, corals, reds and greens. To me, they are all very warm colors. My home has a lot of natural sunlight, so strong colors work well. Light colors seem to wash out and disappear from my walls.

Maybe you have a favorite piece of artwork that you would like to use as your inspiration piece. That is wonderful! What I am telling you, is it is your home and you need to determine what color palette will make you happy and make your house feel like a home. The piece below is by Katie McRostie. I love her style of art! This piece is aged, chippy, nature inspired, and hand painted. This one piece pretty much would describe me.

Artwork by Katie McRostie

I have walked into many homes and the owner had no ideas as to what their inspiration will be for color. They are overwhelmed by the builders white walls they have just purchased. In that case, I have always gone to one of my favorite ways to help them in determining a color that makes them and their home feel good.

Yes, go look in your closet. It is January. Haven’t you spent this month cleaning it? Think about what colors you wear daily. OK, denim and sweat pants do not count! Do you notice a trend going on here? Are there certain colors you seem to gravitate to and wear day in and day out?

Next, spread out a color deck or go to a paint store. Look at the colors. What colors in the deck make you feel good? Go on, you know you have done it before. With wild abandon, be brave, pick out several colors. Don’t even think about your walls. Just pick the colors that you love.

From Benjamin Moore

Don’t start sweating yet. It is just a color chip! It is not a commitment. Now, live with these colors for a week. See how they make you feel at different times of the day. Do the colors flow together? Do you have one really bold color? Stay tuned, my next post will talk more about how to help you pick colors based on brightness, hue, and color.

I hope you are enjoying this information on color. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts. If you are not a follower, I would love to have you become one!

Happy Painting and until next thyme,
Karen

Cleaning out and a Sale!!

2011-01-17T15:44:00.001-06:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I am cleaning out! Everything in my Etsy shop is 20% off until the end of January. Use the coupon code January11 to receive the discount! I hope you can find the perfect piece to brighten up your home!

My Della Robbia platters are listed. You can read about them here.

I also have listed this gorgeous piece made from an upcycled door. I have two co-ordinating pieces and both are stunning and have caught many an eye! Do you have a perfect spot for a unique piece of art?

I hope you will take a look around my shop! Perhaps you will find something perfect to crow about!

These are all original one of a kind pieces, so once they are sold, they will not be duplicated. Happy Shopping!

Until next thyme....

Karen

What Color Do Your Walls Wear?

2011-01-06T21:29:00.001-06:00

With the beginning of a New Year and from what I can see, everyone is looking forward to a much better year! Are you thinking of repainting your walls this year? Are you stuck when it comes to picking out a color?

Does the sight of a color fan deck bring sweat droplets to the back of your neck? Well, I hope not! However, if it does, I hope these few simple ideas will help you out! These are things I look at when I meet with someone to help them determine colors for their home.

First, I look at the architecture of the home. I take inventory of what I like to call the “hardscapes”. These are things that are fixed, like walls, flooring, and lighting. I also ask about the flow from one room to another. I also ask questions about how the home lives. What does the homeowner see as obstacles? So many of today’s homes have an open floor plan, that many people feel they have to have one color throughout. However, there are many ways to differentiate rooms using color, yet still keep a cohesive feel to them.

These are all pictures from my home. They are in order of how most people that come over see my home. When you walk in the back door, which is the door 99% of everyone that visits uses, you enter into my dining area.

The next thing that would catch your eye is the kitchen. This is where your eye stops when you walk in the door. The kitchen walls have a finish on them that I call my “Pompeii” finish. It is a very organic stone like finish with tomes of deep terra cottas. The cabinets are in a warm green.

Next, is the living area. These photos are all taken from the same spot, standing at my back door. If you look at the walls in the above photo, you will notice one open space, with four different wall colors or textures. The first being the kitchen which is described above. I then have two walls and my entry ( that nobody uses) painted in a solid color. You can catch a glimpse of the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. Because it is a naturally dark area, the hallway is painted in a warm yellow/gold shade. As you continue back into the living and dining area, I have a fourth color or finish. This is a glazed faux finish, using bits of all the colors in the surrounding rooms to pull all the areas together.

Should you decide to use my front door, you would find the same color on the walls that “divide” my open kitchen from the dining/living areas. Something else to take note of is how light at different times of the day effects your walls. Because certain walls within your home are lit differently throughout the day, this gives you a great opportunity to make subtle color or texture changes.

So do I have you looking around at your walls yet? Can you find ways to add more colors into an open space? Is there an area you want to have a warmer feel, or do you see an area that is naturally dark that could use a lighter color? Have you looked at the wall at different times of the day? Where do the shadows fall? Are there areas that get washed out due to sun or lighting?

My second question is “What flooring will you have?” I currently have stained concrete floors in my home. I absolutely love my floors!! I will mention that they were the only things I could afford 9 years ago when I built my house, but the warmth and depth of colors in them are perfect for me and the palette I feel comfortable with! Do you have a flooring that dictates color to you?

Look around your house. Do you see an opportunity to add more color into your home? Even if you are more comfortable with more subtle colors, you can use colors to create a mood and a feeling. Have you noticed that I really haven’t talked about how to choose color? I hope you are intrigued. In my next post, I will start to help you discover what color your walls should wear by looking at your inspiration pieces, your “soft scapes” and your happy color!

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments! I hope you have enjoyed today’s post and if you are not already, I would love to have you as a follower!

Happy Painting until next thyme…

Karen

What color are you??

2011-01-02T18:25:00.000-06:00

So, have your heard?? Have you seen? I have waited for several months now for this announcement. I know that in the upcoming year, I want to make some color changes in my own home. I have anxiously awaited to see what the hot color would be to possibly help me in my decisions. So, I now present to you... straight from the Pantone web site, the 2011 color of the year.

PANTONE 2011 COLOR OF THE YEAR

A Color for All Seasons
Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.

“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.

So, what are your thoughts on tihs color?? Don't be shy!! The color police will not come knocking on your door.

I am working on a post to help you determine your color, but I would love your input on this color for 2011.

Happy Painting!
Karen

...and a Happy New Year!

2010-12-28T07:52:00.001-06:00

Oh my! I am not positive where the last month went! It seems there was a lot of decorating around here!

A bit of painting, LOTS of time cleaning up my studio to get ready for some exciting projects next year......

Many wonderful memories spent with family and friends!

Some incredible meals, food,laughter, and great times shared!

A few hand painted gifts under the tree.

Time to reflect on the Grace given to us all, the many blessings in our lives,

including the newest addition to my nephew's family! My daughter and niece's were totally in awe of such a miracle. He certainly gave us all a chance to reflect on the miracle of a new born baby at Christmas!

And mostly, time spent with my entire family!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

I send the best wishes for the New Year to you and your family!

As for me, this is my new look for the New Year!!

I can't wait to share my projects!

Karen

It's beginning to look....

2010-12-02T06:51:00.005-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

I hope this finds everyone enjoying all the traditions that this wonderful Holiday brings! I woke up this morning to a very cold Texas morning! Nature was hard at work making perfect ice sculptures!

This cool morning was the perfect thing for me! It got me inspired to get this place spruced up! I picked up these glass trees recently at a resale shop, filled them with Dollar Store bling and temporarily placed them on my kitchen window sill. As the sun began it's daily journey, I caught a glimpse of this:

I love the way the sun makes my trees glow and glisten! No artificial lighting needed here! One project complete!

I am making progress on decorating. This box filled with my favorite woodland ornaments has made its way to the tree.

Just as I think the tree is complete, I realize I can not find the topper. Then I realize I still have another box of ornaments to put on the tree!

Yes, Santa, I KNOW you are waiting on me to come finish painting those presents with you. I am hurrying as fast as I can!

Santa, I haven't been naughty! It has just bit a bit crazy around here the last month! I have a lot going on, big changes on the horizon! I promise to reunite you with your buddies on the hutch soon!

OK, time to take a deep breath, have a cup of coffee and remember the Reason for the Season!

Has anyone seen my Christmas coffee mugs?

I hope you will become a follower if you are not already! I think I can find those mugs by my next post!

Hope you are enjoying the true meaning of this Holiday!!

I will be linking with:

My Romantic Home

French Country Cottage

The Shabby Nest

Southern in my Heart

Until next thyme....

Giving Thanks!

2010-11-23T13:38:00.000-06:00

I am thankful for this time to share with everyone just a few things I am thankful for!

The brine for the turkey is simmering on the stove and I wish I could share just how incredible it smells! I am thankful for a family that loves to cook! Each year, I brine a turkey and it is the best turkey I have ever tasted!

I am thankful we actually have our meal next door at my sister's house. Of course, I love to do some great tablescapes, but I am thankful because I don't have to clean up afterwards!

I am thankful for some of our traditions. These ceramic turkeys have been around for as long as I can remember! The farm house trellis table has been around even longer!! One of my favorite traditions is on Thanksgiving morning, my daughter, my nieces, my sister and myself all crowd into my kitchen to bake pies, stuffing, and put last minute touches on each of our favorite dishes! It is always a ton of fun and laughter together.

I am very thankful for my Family! The whole crazy bunch! I miss those that are no longer here, but I cherish the moments and memories with all of them!

I am thankful for my ability to transform treasures! I am also thankful for each of you that take the thyme to read my blog and leave comments! Since I can't cook a big dinner to share with each of you, I want to show my appreciation by offering free shipping until December 1 from my shop!

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your traditions or start some new ones!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of those that I am so thankful for!

Faux Bois Inlay

2010-11-12T14:05:00.001-06:00

Faux Bois Inlay - hmmm, sounds like I forgot to use spell check or a translator has gone amuck!!

If you are confused, please let me explain!

Faux Bois is pronounced "fo bwah". Well, that is my translation in the south! I hope it translated well on your end! It is a term that refers to the art of simulating wood with paint. One of my favorite resources is The Art of Faux by Pierre Finkelstein. Pierre is a Master in the Decorative Art world and someone whose work is always phenomenal!

Recently, I stumbled across this little beauty. This looks like it needs a little love! Maybe it has already seen too much love!

Most of the finish was worn off, but it was solid wood and heavy! However, a closer look, and I could tell this table was solid walnut! Another closer look, and I discovered this was a very well made Lane table!

I loved the patina of the natural wood! I sanded the rest of the finish off and applied a light stain to it. The legs had seen a bit more abuse, so a coat of a warm white and a gentle distressing, and they were looking good!

After a light coat of stain, the top was still a bit bare to me. I grabbed a few of my favorite stencils from Royal Design Studio, some gel stains and stencil brushes, and here is the final result!

Can you see the glow of the wood?

The table top was left natural. I used transparent wood gel stains to stencil the border design and the center design.

Because the stains are transparent, it allows the natural grain of the wood to come through. This gives the piece the look of very expensive inlaid wood.

So, have you painted anything that would fool someone?

Happy Painting and until next thyme!

Karen

Della Robbia Platters

2010-11-01T20:16:00.005-05:00

I must confess, every fall I start looking at della Robbia style wreaths. I have always loved this style of wreath and to me, nothing says” Give Thanks” more than a welcoming wreath adorned with fruits and harvests from the season.

I love this one from Williamsburg marketplace . In the States, della Robbia became popular in the Colonial Revival movement of the early 20th Century. A 1926 issue of House Beautiful states: "Of late years, besides the staple wreaths of plain greens to which we have long been accustomed, the holiday's emblems have blossomed forth--or perhaps we should say fruited forth--with richness of color produced by the use of either natural or artificial fruit as an embellishment. This idea was undoubtedly suggested by the gorgeous Italian carvings and terra cottas of the Renaissance..."

Della Robbia refers to an artistic style that was characteristic of art produced by the fifteenth century Italian sculptor Luca della Robbia (1400-1482) and other members of his family. As a decorative element in borders, their artwork incorporated various fruits, usually oranges, apples, pears, and grapes. This fruit motif eventually found its way into live arrangements, primarily garlands and wreaths. Such creations became known simply as “della Robbia.”

Imagine my delight while out thrift shopping with my favorite thrifter, my Mother, and we found these beauties.

Well, ok, we didn’t exactly refer to them as beauties either. In fact, we joked that somebody’s Granny must be missing these! Luckily, my wheels kicked in to motion, and before I knew it, I had these two brass platters in my kitchen sink for a good scrubbing! Because they are metal, they needed to be primed. I love this primer from Modern Masters. I have used it with great success on many metal pieces. A water based primer will not work on metal.

A couple of coats of Benjamin Moore’s Aura paint,

And a quick glazing technique, similar to the one shown here on my Vintage Ceiling tiles, and these platters had a new life!

I have not decided if I like them hung on the wall, or , I am thinking they would make a beautiful backdrop to a Thanksgiving feast. Until I decide, you can find them in my Etsy shop!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, each post this month I am going to share something that I am thankful for. Today, I am thankful for my Mother and my Grandmother. These two women have no idea how much they mean to me! I miss my Grandmother and her great cooking and honesty about life! My Mom is still the greatest woman on this earth and the best Junker ever! Who are you thankful for?

Happy Painting and until next thyme,

Karen

I will be sharing these platters with:

Signs of Autumn

2010-10-21T21:01:00.000-05:00

Some days, it is hard to get into the spirit of Autumn around here. You see, we have been having afternoon temps hovering close to 90. Not that I mind, I love summer, but.. still....

Luckily, our mornings are nice and cool, and lately, a bit foggy! Anyone that knows me well, knows I am a morning person! There is something about the peacefulness and calmness of a morning that helps me turn my thoughts from looking like this:

Into more like this!

Today was a great fall morning! Cool, foggy, and many things that had signs of fall coming to Texas! I thought I would share some of my favorite fall signs with you today!

These Welcoming Pumpkin Signs have been a favorite of mine for years! They were one of the very first items I painted over 15 years ago when I decided to see if anyone would purchase my art work! I really think they are truly thymeless!

In my post last week, I talked a bit about how my company and blog name Never Enough Thyme Creations came about. For the record, thyme is pronounced "time". It is a culinary herb, but I love the connotations! Imagine my excitement when I ran across a stencil that conveyed how I feel about the "magick" of a herb garden! I could spend hours in my garden! This bewitching witch hangs out in my garden all year long. However, her twin would love to come hang out in yours!!

After a long day of gardening, who doesn't like to unwind just a bit?

I didn't say you have to go that far....

If you do, you will wake up feeling like this...

So, what sights have inspired you this Autumn?

Until next thyme...

Happy Painting!

Karen

A little of my Thyme...

2010-10-17T09:52:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!

First, I want to tell each of you how much I appreciate you!! It has been very exciting to see my blog grow! I hope you will continue to follow, as I am so inspired by each of you!

I did a blog hop this week and realized there may be things that my own followers didn't know about my blog!!

So, let me introduce myself! My name is Karen and my blog is Never Enough Thyme Creations. The name came about when my baby was... still a baby!! I was a stay at home Mom and thought it would be fun to grow and sell culinary and flowering herbs. Well, shortly after she was born, I took a few faux finishing and stenciling classes and the garden started growing weeds!

I have been a decorative artist for the last 16 years. I started doing craft shows and later my hobby grew into doing walls in people's home, then entire homes, their furniture...... nearly everything but the dog! I have been very blessed to be able to do what I love for a living! There are very few surfaces I have not painted!

2 story living room with curved staircase. All walls are hand glazed.

Glazed walls with metallic ceiling and embossed stenciled border .

About a year ago, I started reading blogs and was immediately addicted. Yep, you guessed it. The blog bug bit me, so here I am today!

There were so many things I want to share, but I decided first to define some goals and guidelines for my blog. First, to share my love of decorative painting! I want to share with my readers some of the knowledge I have gained over the years. Things like how to properly prep and paint a wall or piece of furniture. Prep is 75% of doing the job right!!

Now what do I do with this table?

Next, I want to share some of the fun transformations I do. These can be anything from a beat up piece of furniture, to a room make over!

From Brown Man Cave....

... to a Colorful retreat for a beautiful baby girl!

I also want to share with you some of my art. I have pieces that are for sale both on my website or through Etsy.

Lastly, I hope that I can inspire your creativity and imagination to turn your own surroundings into a place that you love!

I hope you will join me!! I am also very interested in your thoughts and things that are of interest to you. Is there something you would like to see on here?

Until next thyme...

Happy Painting!
Karen

http://www.never-enough-thyme-creations.blogspot.com/

Autumn Inspiration

2010-10-10T07:50:00.007-05:00

I confess. I don't do a lot of Autumn decorating in my house. My hutch is about the extent of it! However, I still love the season when the sun shines and the morning are cool. I love to be outside and nothing inspires me more than my morning walks. I would love for you to join me today!

Yes, I know it is early, and the sun is just coming up. Feel the coolness and calmness of the morning.

Take a deep breath. Nothing says autumn more than the smell of freshly cut and bailed hay.

Here are some of summer's last blooms. They feed the hummingbirds as they continue their journey southward.

The beauty of this day is shining brightly. This walk puts me in touch with God and gives me time to reflect on the grace he gives me.

Cows stand in the distance.

They watch me with curiosity. I watch back. I discover these are not dairy cows.

They wouldn't say cheese! My humor is waking.

The fog gently lifts from the water. The burdens of the world start to wash away from my shoulders.

As the walk ends, we are reminded that today is a gift, and we all need to take a moment to stop and smell the roses. I hope you too are feeling inspired and ready for a great week!

Happy Painting!

Karen

I am linking with

Vintage Chippy Ceiling Tiles

2010-10-06T09:37:00.005-05:00

10 years ago, before I knew what the heck a blog was all about, while at an antique auction, a set of 6 of the most crusty, rusty, ceiling tiles imaginable came up for bid. I had a friend with me that thought I had flipped my lid the first time I raised my hand to bid on these. She knew I was crazy when I got into a bidding war with someone else. Soon, the other person realized I was determined to leave the auction with these tiles, and they finally quit bidding!

When I got them home, they looked like this. Of course, this photo was taken after I had already scrubbed them down some, removed some of the spider webs, dirt, and dust that was masking their "needed to be found again" inner beauty.

I had a vision and knew just what I wanted to do with these tiles and how I was going to do it, but first, there were steps to be taken. A good bath in hot soapy water was the first step, followed by a good brushing off with a wire brush. Of course, I wanted to keep some of the chippy paint, but the flaking paint had to go! Another wash, rinse and dry cycle, and I had them ….. still pretty rusty and crusty! Knowing they were old, I was careful about stirring up too much dust and did all this outside. Chippy, crusty lead paint is a nasty thing to have to deal with!

The paint store recommended a heavy duty primer that contained a rust inhibitor. I knew that if I painted these with a water based primer, they would continue to rust over again. Primed and pristine, I could now base coat with a high quality off white water based paint. I remember it being a bit of a challenge to not just slap the paint on, since it would puddle in all the nooks and crannies of the tiles. So thin, light layers of paint were applied. Paint dries from the top down, so even though it may feel dry on top, I have often found, especially with textured surfaces, that the paint beneath the top layer can still be wet. A tinted glaze was mixed and manipulated and I had a new headboard!

Since this was a project I completed a while ago, I wanted to include a tutorial here for you. I started with a tile I had laying around my studio.The following pictures will show you the steps taken. These photos were just recently done on a newer tile, but it will still give you the knowledge to paint your own tiles.

This time, I used Nantucket Gray by Benjamin Moore. Anytime you are going to use glaze, you need to start with a paint that is in an eggshell or satin sheen. Next, I stood around a waited for the paint to dry. I do this a lot!

Then, I mixed up some glaze and raw umber colorant.

With my trusty chip brush, I dibbled and dabbled the glaze over the tile, pushing the mixture into all the crevices.

Next, I took a piece of cheesecloth and made a cheesecloth puff. I gently wiped the glaze off the higher portions of the tile. Remember, you can always add more glaze if you take too much off. I wanted to leave the glaze that was down in the nooks and crannies!

The top half shows the glaze lightly removed, while I still have the bottom to do.

I have had my "headboard" up for 10 years now and I continue to get so many compliments on it! I hope you will give it a try as well!

Happy Painting and until next thyme...

Here are a few places I will be sharing this:

Karen

Thyme for Teal

2010-09-29T12:18:00.000-05:00

Is it Thyme to add Teal to your home?

That seems to be a hot question this year!! By now, we all know that teal or turquoise is the hottest color out there and so many are scrambling to add it to their homes.

Dining Room with Teal walls and Damask stencil

Why is this color so appealing to so many? I think because it is a fresh color! It is soothing, refreshing, and very versatile.

My favorite thing about the color is how many shades it comes in.

From Benjamin Moore

From Sherwin Williams

Some teals are more towards the green side,

others lean towards a bluer hue.

It can be very bright, or very subdued.

One day I thought I would paint my entry in a teal shade. I quickly saw that a full teal wall was not a color for my home. However, this piece works beautifully!

I love this box as an accent piece.

Remember this piece? It is available for local delivery.

So, are you ready to add some teal to your home? Are you ready to do a whole room, or just some accent pieces? All photos used today are actual faux finishes from my portfolio or pieces of art that I have created. I am happy to do custom art work!

Today's post were inspired in part from these great parties happening this week. I hope to see you there!

Until next thyme!

Karen

From abstract to Thymeless!

2010-09-23T13:55:00.001-05:00

Honestly, I don’t know where my thyme goes lately! It seems to be flying by! The good news is, I have been spending some time in my studio having fun redoing some things that have been patiently collecting dust for the last few years! I have several things in various stages of completion, but thought I would give you a teaser on a few items I have completed!

While digging through my stash of stuff to paint, I stumbled over these candle sticks.

I can’t figure out what the person that originally painted them was trying to accomplish! Are they crawfish or shrimp gone wrong, abstract carrots.. or worse?? Well, rather than ponder the question any longer, I did what I do best! I painted over them!

I pulled out my can of Benjamin Moore’s Aura. The color is Lodge. I live this color! It is a soft brown with green undertones. I love Aura because it is self priming and covers like a dream! One coat and the questionable paintings on those candlesticks was gone forever!

Next, a coat of crackle medium and a topcoat of an off white paint and I could sit back and watch the paint crack! A quick coating of glaze to age , and I was loving these candlesticks and wondering why I waited so long to redo them!

I brought them in, added some hay, some pumpkins, and a bit of twine ribbon and they are now adding to my fall décor!

I also added this little sign that I painted this week! I love the sentiment behind it! Originally, I thought it would be great at my back door, where everyone seems to enter, but the more I read it, I kept asking myself the question…. Of course I decided I was the good witch!

Just a sneak preview of things to come!! I am working on some tutorials on glazing, priming, painting, etc. So I hope you will come back when you have thyme!

Linking with a new site!

http://www.pollywantacrafter.com

Happy Painting!
Karen

Harvest Thyme!

2010-09-10T12:23:00.006-05:00

I can’t do much about the fact that it is 95 degrees outside with 100% humidity, making it feel like a sauna, but I can at least turn my thoughts towards cooler weather, spiced cider, football games, and chili!

Maybe it will help to transform my hutch, now decorated with my summer colors,

into a wonderful arrangement of fall harvest colors and so many things I love!

Now, before you start itching thinking this hutch would look great painted…. Hold your horses, cuz that ain’t gonna happen!! ( Yep, I am a Texan, can't you tell!) You see, this hutch was purchased by my parents shortly after they married, over 55 years ago. After we loss my Dad, I couldn’t bear to let the piece go. I already had a buffet, and didn’t need the piece, but I HAD to have this one! Now, I love to change it out with the seasons. It reminds me of all the seasons spent with him!

Like most of us, the budget doesn’t allow for me to buy new, so I am pulling from around the house to decorate, rearranging other areas, digging out so much of what I love about this thyme of year.

I love my green plates and platters, all purchases from Ross. My Warren Kimble plates are ones I have had for ever! I love the simplicity and folk art style they convey!

Hey, I see a barnyard forming here…. Better bring in the harvest!

I included my collection of tiny tea pots that I bought when my daughter was a baby. She never was much into tea parties, but I love them just the same!

Here is a scarecrow I painted when I first started my business. I can’t tell you how many of these I painted and sold! He was one of my firsts, and I love to see him each fall. He reminds me of where I have been, what I have done, and what I still truly love to do!

While I am at it, I may as well change out the artwork. These are two pieces available here, talked about here, and recently featured at Better After!

Well, I can see more changes coming soon, but it is still 95 degrees outside! Stay tuned!

I love the fall and love to share!! I will be linking up to many of my favorite blogs! Check them out!

Happy Painting!

Karen

** UPDATE!!! This was such a great post, I wanted to share it again this fall!! Linking with Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt Your Fall!!

Something to Crow About

2010-09-02T09:04:00.012-05:00

I don’t know why, but I have a thing for chickens in the kitchen. Not just any chicken, I mean, I am picky about my chickens. I do have one chicken that was a gift that I love.

Meet Ol' Jake. Story goes that when I was little, my Uncle Jake would give us chickens. I would turn them into pets. I even trained them to follow me around the yard and they would sit on my shoulder. As a present one year, they gave this to me. I have treasured him ever since.

I have even painted a scene behind my stove. I titled it “Chicken Soup”, as all the ingredients for chicken soup are in the painting. I also had to throw in a few of my other favorite items, a bottle of wine and artichokes.

The other day, while taking inventory of my countertops, deciding what needs to go, be cleaned, or rearranged, I came across Rusty. I almost forgot he was on the countertop. See, he roosts back in a dark corner of my counter. Because of his rusty appearance, he pretty much blended into nothingness.

Now, Rusty isn’t necessarily a prized possession. I bought him on clearance at Hobby Lobby several years ago. He is resin, made to look like rusty metal, and was cheap. I figured one day I would repaint him. Today was the day. I dusted him off,washed and dried him, and out to the studio he went. A fine white rooster he would become.

Well, he scared me!! Those eyes just glared at me. I think he was mad at me! So, I decided to tone him down. Grabbed some glazes, and went to rubbing and wiping it all over him. Now, his eyes looked like they should, he had character, and he had class! He was ready to strut his stuff again!! Back into the corner he went. Now, he stands out with pride!

Of course, I am not sure how Pottery Barn copied him so quickly, but the next week, I found Rusty in their catalog. He must have snuck out of the studio one night for a photo shoot with them. Never trust a rooster!

Ever hear of too many chickens in the pot? Well, I feel like I have too many roosters! I am offering one of my favorite rooster paintings at a discounted price. He is very handsome, full of great colors on a painted damask background. As a fall special to my readers, he is being offered for $95 plus shipping. He is the only one available. I hope you can give him a new home!

More details can be found on him here. If interested, please email me at karen@never-enough-thyme.com

Happy Painting!

Linking with:

Karen

Great Day Houston!!

2010-08-25T15:52:00.006-05:00

Well, for the middle of the week, today was very exciting!! The day began very early. Before 5 a.m. is not idea of fun!! However, when the alarm went off, I had a feeling it was going to be A GREAT DAY!!! As in.......

A few weeks ago, I received an email that they were doing a show on Designing Women and I should write to them. Well, imagine my surprise when I received an email back saying they wanted me on the show!! I received the confirmation on Monday. Along with that confirmation was the ..... Yes, this Wednesday morning and could you do some demos, bring some furniture pieces, a few pieces of art, send photos........

Well, the wheels were in full motion... What to wear of course, what to demo, will this end up on TV's Bloopers......

The day went very well and was lots of fun!

I got to meet a few fellow Etsy shop owners. I didn't get a picture as I intended, but it was fun to put a name with a face! Everyone did an incredible job on their presentations!!

This all started for me, in part, because the producer read my last blog post.

I have received so many wonderful comments on this piece, but I had no idea it would get me here!!!

The show is very well done! Hats off to the staff that keep it running so smoothly! You can watch the video of my segment:

http://www.khou.com/great-day/gdh_082510_seg5-101478939.html

The Hostess, Debra Duncan, is such a sweetheart! She does a great job with some very nervous people! By the end, she was inviting me over for dinner! I just can't figure out how the camera adds 20 pounds to me and not to her? Am I missing something??

Thanks to all my family and friends for their support!! It has really meant so much to me!

Totally Transformed!

2010-08-19T16:10:00.008-05:00

Several weeks ago, I stumbled over this piece, literally!! I had to move it out of my way so I could load a great table I found in a resale shop. The piece was covered in dust, dirt, and well, who knows what else! The shop was closing, and the piece was 75% off. Some quick math and it was less than $2 for this hunkin chunk of furniture!

Well, who could pass up the bargain?? A good cleaning, some plaster, paint, and putty, and see what I have now!!

Linking up to:

Recycled and Upcycled

2010-08-11T06:59:00.014-05:00

I do a lot of work in new construction homes. Many of these homes are built on lots where a home has been torn down. Recently, I met with a builder and home owner at the site of a soon to be torn down home. We were discussing new finishes, colors, and ideas for the upcoming home. I couldn’t help but notice a set of solid wood cabinet doors. I was told the doors, along with most everything in the home, was headed for a landfill. Well, my heart would have no part of that! So, I borrowed a screw driver and off I went to save these doors and give them new life. This photo was taken after I had already sanded and given them a first coat of primer. You can see the back of one door. These doors are SOLID!!

These were the first ones I completed. They have an embossed design with a crackle finish and gold leafing hightlights.

These were next. They were completed using metallic foils, metallic plasters, and embossed designs.

I love the fact that I am able to save these great wood doors and turn them into something that people can continue to enjoy for years to come!

These panels are available on my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NeverEnoughThyme .

I am linking up with:

The very Large Panels!

2010-07-12T16:39:00.010-05:00

Finally, the panels are finished and what fabulous results!!!

These panels were custom designed for one of my favorite clients! They are HUGE!!! measuring 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide each. When deciding what to do on them, I went through her house, took photos, color samples, and other clues from the wonderful work she and the decorator had done.

Then, we went through my portfolio, and pulled some of our favorite wall finishes.

Once frames were built and the canvas stretched, I pulled out plasters, paints, glazes and stencils and went to work!! These were great fun to do.

They now reside in her home on the wall next to the staircase. I know she is enjoying them.

Do you need some custom artwork for a blank wall in your home?

I am linking up ( I hope, I think! this is all new to me... )

http://meandmybucket.blogspot.com/2010/07/show-us-what-youre-workin-with-19.html

Busy Busy Busy!!

2010-05-23T18:21:00.005-05:00

Sorry it has been so long!! I have been crazy busy, but some great projects coming soon to share with you! I have a few clients in a mad frenzy to beat the June 30th tax credit deadline, so I am frantic to get everyone completed before that date! I have a wonderful home I am working in now, and nearly finished with!! Here are a few photos... The first is a ceiling a walls I did with a multi layered metallic plaster on the ceiling. At night, this ceiling glows and the light dances and shimmers!! It is incredible!! The walls have a light faux finish over them that helped to tie the walls, counters, and ceiling together. Also, check out the tile work!! The tile guy is amazing!! Each tile has 2 rows of 1/2" tiles of a garnet colored granite set between!!

My clients have creativity!

2010-04-12T18:43:00.004-05:00

Most of the time , I am called upon to be the creative one, but in this case, one of my wonderful client beat me to it! She called with the great idea of making a "table topper" to go over her center island which is "largely eaten up with my cooktop". So, after a brief meeting, a few measurements, and the creative skills of my carpenter, we came up with this:

A piece that would sit over her cooktop and allow her to use her island as a place to serve her guests. I have previously done a very heavy aged and distressed look on her kitchen cabinets. This piece compliments her cabinets, as well as her wallpaper. She was very pleased and looking forward to her first party!!

French Country

2010-03-24T21:00:00.004-05:00

Ok, so here is a fact about me. I love a bargain and I can usually spot one without blinking!! Here is my most recent one!

It is a wonderful French buffet with the coolest wavy glass that I have ever seen. The problem, it is FILTHY with grime!! I am off to do some scrubbing and cleaning!! I will be back to let you know how it cleans up!!

Spring is Finally Here!!

2010-03-17T20:38:00.003-05:00

I know it has been a long winter for everyone, even here in the South, it seems as spring would never get here, but, it finally has, and here is proof! Finally, I feel some inspiration again for life, home, and creativity!!

Patience is a virtue!!

2010-02-21T19:59:00.001-06:00

OK, so I a bit of a slow start here, but believe me, the ideas are a flowing like crazy!! Bear with me, because once I get to rolling, there will be no stopping!! I have so many exciting things to share. Amongst those things will be fantastic faux finishes, some really cool projects I am working on, as well as some furniture rehabs, tablescapes,and well... let's just say I have something REALLY Big up my sleeve! Pray that it all works out, becuase it will definately be an adventure, and I would love for you to be along for the ride! For now, please check out my websites: www.never-enough-thyme.com and www.neverenoughthyme.etsy.com