Work Shop at Magnolia Lane Design

As some of you already know I began to dabble in Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint early this spring....I'm about to embark on a kitchen cabinet job....I wanted to take a workshop prior to beginning this job to learn more about various texture and finishes.

Magnolia Lane Designs located on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey is a wonderful shop filled with eclectic mix of antiques, vintage and one of a kind painted items.  Stephanie Granit owner runs great work shop through out the year on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Techniques.   The classes are small, up to six (6) people only.....This allows her to answer all questions and work with each participant to achieve the techniques that they want to focus on.  

We were given to lengths of different molding, a flat board, and a picture frame.  Each of these items were used to practice various techniques.  Two Color Distressed, Chalk Board, Modern Finish, and Rustic Finish.  The group were of various backgrounds...Retirees, Young Moms, Interior Designer, and Home Stager.  We all had one thing in common...We were all "Dumpster Diva's" that loved chalk paint.....As you can see from the photo below, we were allowed to experiment with the paints of our choice along with using either the dark, or clear wax... All fun and no stress....

We all became deep in thought as we achieved amazing samples....and what we would be on our next piece of furniture that we found....I decided immediately that I would finish a dresser that I found at a garage sale in   a combination of Arles and Antibes as the base with a Provence wash along with a clear color wax.

As we worked on the project we had to allow drying time...but continued to finish each project from start to finish....Each sample was completed at the end of the four hour session....How wonderful  it is that you can start a project in the morning and enjoy the piece in your home by the end of the day.... Below are the finished sample boards.

Graphite base and old white top coat - clear wax


This one and the one below is what I was experimenting with for a finish for the kitchen cabinets 

This is Old White base with another coat of Old White on Top then hit with a blow dryer to achieve a crackle affect followed by clear wax and dark wax

The next sample is the "Rustic/Textured sample where we applied Barcelona Orange thickly and unevenly to create texture followed by the application of the dark wax.

The other half of the board was used to practice the Modern Finish - using various grades of sand paper you are able to create a smooth as silk finish...( which is a bit difficult to tell from the picture...but trust me, your fingers would know)

The last project was a picture frame - which we all did differently - I choose a Versailles base coat followed by the removal of the paint over the gilded areas - then the application of the dark wax was applied...the results were beautiful of each of the participants  in the class..

Stephanie's class, was fun, relaxed and filled with smiles and self satisfaction....we all felt like accomplished artists when we were completed.  Not only did we learn so much we did some net-working and exchanges of ideas....Fun time was had by all.... Please continue reading my blog....I will keep you updated on the dresser project along with the kitchen cabinets..