Shades of Gray

 

I just finished this fantastic stool and I love it!  It has a little French look to it and would be great as a foot stool or an accent piece.

 

 

The stool, when I acquired it, was painted black. I refurbished it with a soft blue/gray paint and sanded it a little to reveal the black paint underneath.

 

I had some leftover burlap for the seat cushion.  This stencil worked out to be just right!

 

This is how the fabric turned out.  Not too bad...

Sheet Music Garland

 

Here is another project using my grandmother's old sheet music...garland!  I have cut out several different shapes (Christmas trees, stars, birds, butterflies, gingerbread boys and circles) and glued two cutouts together with twine in between.  The 8 foot garland can be used on Christmas trees, across the mantel, or just on the wall as decoration.

 

 

I have yet another project done with the sheet music...

Sheet Music Wreaths

For the past 35 years I have been moving around a rather large box of old sheet music that once belonged to my grandmother.  I thought the music could be worth something, but I guess after 35 years, I'm never going to find out.

 

While thumbing through a magazine I saw a wreath made from the pages of old books and knew that I had finally found something to do with all of this fabulous old sheet music!

 

These wreaths can be hung on the walls during the holidays or can be used for every-day decoration.  I have used many different types of centers for my wreaths including burlap flowers, seashells, Christmas ornaments as well as birds cut from the paper.

 

 

 I love them!  And I have another idea of how to use up this box of sheet music...

A Good Goodwill Find!

Today was a good day at Goodwill!

While looking for a desk chair for a client, I spied a MacKenzie-Childs soap pump dispenser.  There was a GW ticket on the bottom so I wasn't actually sure if this was a MacKenzie-Childs item but when I got home, I found the markings.  The dispenser was priced $1.99 but with my senior discount, I paid $1.39.  I checked online and discovered that these sell for $50.00...not too bad!

This is the second MacKenzie-Childs item I have found at Goodwill this year.  I found a beautiful square platter that was marked $9.99 but it was the half off color of the day so I ended up paying around $5.00 for it.  A similar platter sells for $195.00 on the MacKenzie-Childs website - but my platter is no longer produced so could bring a higher price.  I gave it to one of my daughters who treasures it.

I also purchased 4 frames, a darling cup and saucer and a metal container that will hold herbs when I get around to planting them.  I never did find the chair - guess I'll  have to go back to Goodwill another day!

Black Urns

Today in the Studio, I  was asked to paint 4 mis-matched urns that my friend, Missy, at Palm Court Design, wanted to use for a client's party this weekend.  They will be filled with beautiful floral arrangments and make fabulous centerpieces.  It is nice to know that you can have a coordinated look even when you can't find 4 urns all alike - and it makes for a more interesting looking display.

I simply painted the urns black, using a flat latex paint.  When they were dry, I used a watered down white paint and washed that over the urns so the white would catch in the groves and designs.  While this was still wet, I wiped off the excess, leaving the white in the cracks.  They look great and I can't wait to see what flowers Missy puts in them!

This is a good thing to keep in mind...when you find the perfect frame, vase, chair or whatever, and it is not the color you really want, just paint it for the desired look.  Easy-peasy!

Scrapbook Paper Covered Letters

While meeting and getting to know my new granddaughter, Molly Murphy Tracey, these past three weeks, I had plenty of time to decorate letters spelling out "Molly" with scrapbook paper. I usually hand paint letters for my clients, but I didn't have any of my paints or brushes with me on this trip.

Molly's mom and I went to Hobby Lobby to pick out the letters and paper.

Turning the paper over, I traced out the letters before cutting out each letter.

I also used white and black paints, Mod Podge and some brushes.

I painted each letter white and added black stripes on the edges to add a little dimension.

Using the Mod Podge I glued the scrapbook paper to the front of each letter.

I added some bright ribbon with hot glue to the back of each letter and hung them on the wall over Molly's changing table.  She seems to love looking at them while Mommy or Daddy change her!

Hand painted letters...

While my students have been busy on their projects, I was busy painting some letters for a client.  Harris is a darling 4 year old boy whose room I recently painted.  He wanted a rocket ship blasting off into the corner with stars trailing after it.



I purchased these letters at Hobby Lobby...

...and plaid from his bedspread as well as a martian!

I incorporated the rocket ship and stars...

I also painted letters for Harris' brother, Jared and recently did Katie and Liam as well.  So cute!  I used water based paints and a spray sealer when they were done.

Activities in the Studio

It's been a fun and busy week in the Studio!  We have lots of projects in the works.  My students are working on various items such as a black stool painted with hydrangas; a painted blueberry stool; an eight paneled window that will be backed with magnetic paint and scrapbook papers; a painted lazy Susan (I hate to use that term...); a darling chair for a child; a striped bookcase for a granddaughter; a wooden rocking airplane (yes, found at a local Goodwill!); two black rocking chairs that will go back on a patio; flower pots; a wooden bowl; three frames and a set of coasters! It is fun to see all of these things in their various stages and even more fun to hear the discussions about life as we paint.  It is one giant therapy session each week!

Come join the fun!  We do our painting workshops four times a week:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thrusday mornings, 10 - noon and Tuesday evening, 6 - 8 p.m.  The cost is $20 each time you come and you can use my paints and supplies.  Bring your own projects, however.  It should be something that you can carry.  The Studio is located at 5343 Winthrop Avenue, Indianapolis - in the Drewmont Graphics building.  If you would like more information, call 432-1770.

Woven Ribbon Wall Hanging

Here is a special project I made for my youngest daughter. She and her husband are expecting their first baby - a little girl! Two showers were thrown in their honor, and they received some wonderful things for the baby - all beautifully wrapped with a variety of nice ribbons.

The ribbons were so beautiful that I thought I should save them for her and decided to make two wall hangings for the nursery - one from each shower.

First, I painted an 11" x 14" canvas a bright green color.

With my trusty glue gun (I don't know how anyone gets through life without one!), I glued one side of each ribbon to the back of the canvas frame, stretching the ribbon across the front of the canvas and gluing the other end to the opposite side.

    
When the ribbons filled the canvas, I began putting the ribbons the opposite way on the canvas, weaving them as I went.

The result is a very pretty wall hanging of woven ribbons that resembles a beautifully wrapped gift.

Even the backside is and pretty!

I painted and glued a wooden flower to the front, and will add my granddaughter's initial soon (they're still deciding on a name!).

Now we are just waiting for the baby to arrive...

Painted Glassware

I stopped by the Studio today to do a little cleaning up for tomorrow's classes. When I left last week, I left a mess on our painting tables. I had been working on some wine glasses that a client asked me to paint for her daughter. They have black and white diamonds around the top with gold and silver tassels at the points. Now I am painting 12 matching double old fashioned glasses for her, too.

Here's the secret to making hand-painted glasses and plates dishwasher safe: Let the painted items sit for about 24 hours. Then place them in a cold oven, turn it to 325°F, and set the timer for 30 minutes. When the time is up, leave the glasses in the oven until they are cool. No more hand-washing your special plates and glasses! 

 

My First Blog Post!

Let the blogging begin!  I have finally decided that I will join the blogging world after all of these years.  During the past 13 years as owner of the Susan Van Huss Design Studio, I have created, and have helped my students create, many wonderful projects. I am excited to share our projects with you!

Thanks for following us on this new venture!